Things look like they are getting closer to home for Gov. Walker (WI-R) in the FBI John Doe investigation. Naturally, late Friday (to avoid most press coverage) his campaign announced that he was setting up a legal defense fund.
Walker claims that he does not want to use state money. However, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that there are specific reasons that one can set up such a fund under certain circumstances.
But election lawyers said the governor’s move appeared a tacit acknowledgment that Walker is under investigation for violations of state election law.
“If you create a legal defense fund, you are either being investigated, being charged with or have been convicted of a criminal violation of Chapter 11 or Chapter 12,” said George Dunst, a retired state election lawyer.“The only way you can set that up is if you are under investigation or being prosecuted,” said Michael Maistelman, an election lawyer who is representing former Walker aide Tim Russell (added former Walker aide) in the John Doe investigation. “One can only draw the conclusion that either one of those two things is happening.”
Now what may have prompted this further move by Gov. Walker? Well, yesterday Kelly Rindfleisch, a former Walker deputy chief of staff, waived her preliminary hearing on alleged charges she worked on campaigns while at work for Milwaukee County. If she is convicted, the charges could bring up to 14 years in prison. Darlene Wink, another person charged in similar, but less harsh crimes, had earlier agreed to cooperate with the FBI.
So, what’s going on here? Either Gov. Walker does not comprehend the Wisconsin state statutes or he is truly starting to sweat. Either way, why would you want this guy as your governor?
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