WASHINGTON -- Prosecutors allege that Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) was at the center of a criminal conspiracy to illegally coordinate the activities of independent conservative groups during recall elections in his state in 2011 and 2012, according to documents released Thursday and first reported on by theMilwaukee Journal Sentinel.
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| Gov. Scott Walker (R) |
Prosecutors contend in the documents that Walker had direct knowledge that his top deputies R.J. Johnson and Deborah Jordahl were involved in the alleged illegal coordination between the Walker campaign and 12 conservative groups.
The documents, part of a John Doe investigation, were unsealed in a lawsuit brought by the Wisconsin Club for Growth, the central player in the alleged illegal coordination, and other groups seeking to halt the investigation as a violation of their First Amendment rights. The prosecutors' allegations are based on extensive testimony and findings from the parties involved.
In one unsealed email from Walker to Karl Rove, chief political strategist to former President George W. Bush and founder of the well-funded independent groups American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS, the governor described Johnson's alleged role in coordinating Republican efforts in the recall elections.
"Bottom line: R.J. helps keep in place a team that is wildly successful in Wisconsin," Walker wrote to Rove. "We are running 9 recall elections and it will be like running 9 Congressional markets in every market in the state (and Twin Cities.)"
Johnson sent Walker a document saying that the Wisconsin Club for Growth's activities in the recall elections were overseen by "operative R.J. Johnson and Deborah Jordahl, who coordinated spending through 12 different groups. Most spending by other groups were directly funded by grants from the Club." According to an affidavit, Johnson stated, "We own [Club for Growth]." more
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