Walker signs bill ending Doe political investigations

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By SCOTT BAUER
Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker, who has been involved in two secret John Doe investigations, signed a bill Friday doing away with the probes into political misconduct.

The Republican-controlled Legislature this week passed the bill doing away with John Does for any kind of political misconduct, including bribes, theft and campaign finance violations. They could still be used for violent felonies and some drug crimes.

Walker wasn’t charged in either investigation involving him. The first focused on former aides and associates of Walker when he was Milwaukee County executive. Six people were convicted of a variety of crimes, including misconduct in office.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court ended the second John Doe investigation in July, saying there was nothing unconstitutional about the campaign coordination between Walker’s 2012 recall committee and conservative groups.

John Does are like a grand jury, but are done before a judge who ultimately decides whether a crime has been committed. Witnesses are under gag orders, and prosecutors can compel people to testify, obtain search warrants and collect evidence in secret.

Republicans have denounced the second John Doe investigation into Walker and his allies as a political witch hunt and maintain police were too heavy-handed when they executed pre-dawn search warrants.

Republican Rep. Joe Sanfelippo, of New Berlin, during debate of the measure, compared tactics used by Wisconsin law enforcement officials in executing the search warrants to Nazis. Democrats demanded an apology.

The bill passed the Senate and Assembly with all Republicans in support and all Democrats against.

Under the new law, even in the more limited cases where John Doe investigations are permitted prosecutors would have to obtain permission from a majority of the state’s chief judges to extend the probes beyond six months. Secrecy orders would apply only to judges, prosecutors, court officials and investigators; witnesses and suspects would be allowed to discuss such investigations openly.

Republican backers in both the Senate and Assembly insisted the change would protect free speech rights and bring a stop to meandering investigations designed to smear prosecutors’ political enemies.

Opponents say the change will shield politicians from investigators and open the door to corruption.