Report: Wis. Attorney General Declined To Help With Walker Investigation

Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen
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In the latest development in the apparent investigation of former aides to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) from his time as Milwaukee County Executive, it has now been reported that state Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, a fellow Republican, has previously declined a request from Milwaukee’s Democratic district attorney to assist in the investigation.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports:

State Department of Justice officials would not say why the agency chose not to assist with the investigation of Walker’s former county staffers.

Sources said the request was made around the time of the November 2010 election.

The “John Doe” investigation — a secret proceeding in which witnesses can be subpoenaed to testify under oath, but are forbidden from talking publicly about the case — is reported to have originally stemmed from a staffer resigning in 2010, when she was found using her county time to post reader comments on online newspaper article promoting Walker’s gubernatorial candidacy and criticizing his opponents.

Last week, former Walker aide Cynthia Archer’s home was raided by the FBI, though she has denied any connection with the John Doe investigation.

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