The Scott Walker campaign finance investigation, explained

[Marcus Aurelius]

http://www.vox.com/2014/6/20/5825162/scott-walker-john-doe-criminal-scheme

If you got the impression from some early coverage that prosecutors were newly closing in on Walker — that's wrong. Instead, prosecutors are fighting for court permission to use the evidence they think they need to build a case. And so far, two judges have refused their requests.

Importantly, no charges have been filed against anyone, and none appear imminent. Most of the legal wrangling so far has focused instead on whether prosecutors had probable cause to raid and subpoena documents from the consultants and nonprofit groups they believe to be involved.

The prosecutors claim that Walker, too, was involved — as one piece of evidence, they cite a May 4, 2011 email from Walker to Karl Rove, which states, "Bottom-line: R.J. helps keep in place a team that is wildly successful in Wisconsin. We are running 9 recall elections and it will be like running 9 Congressional markets in every market in the state (and Twin Cities)." But as the Washington Post notes, "the super PAC [Rove] co-founded, American Crossroads, was not involved in the Wisconsin recall races."

Now, no one is claiming that this is enough evidence to convict anyone of a crime — or even to file charges.

except the libs here on PJ and everywhere else.

About a month after the subpoenas went out, the judge who had approved them, Barbara Kluka,recused herselffrom the case for unknown reasons, so judge Gregory Peterson replaced her. And in January 2014, Peterson ruled that the subpoenas should never have gone out, writing that prosecutors failed "to show probable cause that a crime was committed." He wrote that since the outside groups only funded issue ads, the coordination the prosecutors purported to show was fact perfectly legal.

In February 2014, the Wisconsin Club for Growth and its director Eric O'Keefe filed a federal lawsuit. They alleged that the prosecutors' unjustified investigation and subpoenas had violated their First Amendment rights to free speech — chilling their group's fundraising and crippling its ability to advocate in this year's elections.

In May, federal district court judge Rudolph Randa agreed. "The plaintiffs have been shut out of the political process, merely by association with conservative politicians," Randa wrote, in a fiery opinion. "This cannot square with the First Amendment and what it was meant to protect."

He agreed with Judge Peterson's ruling that the subpoenas were unjustified, because the groups only aired perfectly legal issue ads. Furthermore, Randa wrote, "The theory of 'coordination' forming the basis of the investigation... is not supported under Wisconsin law, and, if it were, would violate the United States Constitution."

Overall, the documents released Thursday provide new information on the case prosecutors sought to make, and what evidence they initially had. But they don't indicate any new substantive development in the investigation. Until prosecutors get permission from both federal and state courts to use the documents they subpoenaed, charges seem unlikely to be filed.

 

[Bo-4]

Yer gonna spend the rest of the day duh-fending that moron ain't ya?

Marbles: Republican = INNOCENT no matter what!

 

[connieb]

http://www.vox.com/2014/6/20/5825162/scott-walker-john-doe-criminal-scheme







except the liberal asshats here on PJ and everywhere else.

So the gist of this whole thing seems to be what??? That there were some independent groups who for their own reasons and issues wanted Walker to win the recall. And, the democrats are trying to say, that the work they did somehow violated campaign finance rules if they were receiving order and direction from Walker's staff? So basically, they are saying - you may have a common enemy and you can't work to defeat that common enemy even if you have different reasons for wanting to defeat them? And, now they are looking to go on a fishing expedition because they have nothing to prove a crime happened unless they fish and fish and fish for something that is a form of direction from Walker's staff?

connie

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

So the gist of this whole thing seems to be what??? That there were some independent groups who for their own reasons and issues wanted Walker to win the recall. And, the democrats are trying to say, that the work they did somehow violated campaign finance rules if they were receiving order and direction from Walker's staff? So basically, they are saying - you may have a common enemy and you can't work to defeat that common enemy even if you have different reasons for wanting to defeat them? And, now they are looking to go on a fishing expedition because they have nothing to prove a crime happened unless they fish and fish and fish for something that is a form of direction from Walker's staff?

connie

They are claiming that a legal act on the part of said groups was illegal, and that a Walker aid (so, by default, Walker himself) orchestrated said illegal act.

Two judges have so far told them to pound sand on this one.

 

[connieb]

They are claiming that a legal act on the part of said groups was illegal, and that a Walker aid (so, by default, Walker himself) orchestrated said illegal act.

Two judges have so far told them to pound sand on this one.

And, what specifically is the act they are claiming is illegal?

 

[resident_evil]

Obama screws the Republic using the IRS to do it and gets away with it.

Walker is being politically murdered before our eyes because he balanced the budget.

Liberal progressives are quite clearly fiends.

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

Check out the OP link, specifically, the sections titled

Why do the prosecutors think a crime was committed?
and
Why wouldn't all this be probable cause for a subpoena?

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/06/26/prosecutor-no-conclusion-on-gov-walker-activity/

The attorney for the special prosecutor investigating Gov. Scott Walker's campaign and conservative groups says no conclusions have been made about whether there's enough evidence to charge him or anyone with a crime.

Thursday's statement from attorney Randall Crocker also says that Walker himself was not a target of the investigation and has never been served with a subpoena.

Another colossal FAIL, brought to us by the libs here at PJ.

Dumb asses.

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

where are all the PJ libs, to tell us how Walker is guilty, and will soon be arrested and jailed???

 

[Dawg]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/06/26/prosecutor-no-conclusion-on-gov-walker-activity/


Another colossal FAIL, brought to us by the liberals here at PJ.

Dumb asses.

LiberalinWIS got it's battleship sank.........they can't win for losing.☻

 

[Alinvegas]

We got a guy here in NV going to prison for Harry Reid and his shenanigans.

So the gist of this whole thing seems to be what??? That there were some independent groups who for their own reasons and issues wanted Walker to win the recall. And, the democrats are trying to say, that the work they did somehow violated campaign finance rules if they were receiving order and direction from Walker's staff? So basically, they are saying - you may have a common enemy and you can't work to defeat that common enemy even if you have different reasons for wanting to defeat them? And, now they are looking to go on a fishing expedition because they have nothing to prove a crime happened unless they fish and fish and fish for something that is a form of direction from Walker's staff?

connie

 

[Dawg]

Yer gonna spend the rest of the day duh-fending that moron ain't ya?

Marbles: Republican = INNOCENT no matter what!

appears we were right and you wrong...typical.

 

[Boca]

http://www.vox.com/2014/6/20/5825162/scott-walker-john-doe-criminal-scheme







except the liberal asshats here on PJ and everywhere else.

Who appointed Kluka?

 

[Bo-4]

appears we were right and you wrong...typical.

Doubt that Steve.. Walker remains in a world of hurt and scandal.

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

Thursday's statement from attorney Randall Crocker also says that Walker himself was not a target of the investigation and has never been served with a subpoena.

No scandal or hurt there, dumb asses.