Showing posts with label John Doe Law. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Doe Law. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

The Persecution of Wisconsin Conservatives

Conservative political entities who supported Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker are beingsubjected to a secret investigation. Special Prosecutor Francis Schmitz has issued a series of subpoenas to 29 conservative groups, demanding that they submit all documentation related to the recall campaigns mounted by unions and their supporters against Walker in 2011 and 2012. The investigation is being conducted under the auspices of the state’s John Doe law, which forbids the targets of subpoenas from revealing the contents of those subpoenas to anyone other than theirlawyers.

The effort reeks of political intimidation. According to the Wall Street Journal, the two subpoenas they’ve reviewed demand “all memoranda, email . . . correspondence, and communications” within the targets of the subpoenas themselves, and between those targets and conservative groups such as the Friends of Scott Walker and the Republican Party of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Manufacturers &Commerce, Americans for Prosperity-Wisconsin, American Crossroads, the Republican Governors Association, and the League of American Voters.

In a transparent effort to determine an entity’s list of campaign donors, one subpoena demands “all records of income received, including fundraising information and the identity of persons contributing to the corporation.”

Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm John Doe probe


The investigation originated in the office of Milwaukee County Assistant DistrictAttorney Bruce Landgraf. Landgraf works for Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm, a Democrat. This latest John Doe investigation is the second one being conducted against Walker in only three-and-a-half years, and it was initiated just days before Democrat Mary Burke, a member of the Madison School Board, announced her intention to run for governor.


Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Special Prosecutor Intimidating Wisconsin Conservatives

Photo Credit: Dave Hoefler (Creative Commons)According to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal, politically active conservatives in Wisconsin are being targeted by an overzealous special prosecutor. A number of conservative organizations – specifically those that support Republican Gov. Scott Walker – have received subpoenas and been the subject of law enforcement raids.

Reports indicate that Francis Schmitz has sent a number of demands to these groups, primarily seeking information regarding the efforts to recall Walker in recent years.

Furthermore, the investigation is reportedly being conducted under the so-called John Doe law, which creates obstacles for any of the targeted groups hoping to speak out in their own defense. Under the state legislation, the party that receives a subpoena is barred from discussing its details with anyone aside from an attorney.

An official with one of the subpoenaed groups said that at least three individuals have had their personal computers seized during a raid.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the gag order, several targets believe that leftist politicians are using these subpoenas as a method of gaining more information.

Via: Western Journalism

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