A former federal prosecutor has been appointed as a special prosecutor in Wisconsin, as part of a wide-ranging investigation into state-level issues, including the 2011 and 2012 recall elections, according to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The Journal Sentinel reported on Monday that the probe grew out of leads discovered during an earlier investigation of aides who served Gov. Scott Walker (R) during his time as Milwaukee County executive. That case ended with six people convicted on criminal charges.
The current probe was initiated by the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office, but now involves multiple counties. Francis Schmitz, a former assistant U.S. attorney who was once considered by President George W. Bush for the post of U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Wisconsin, is now leading the case as a special prosecutor, according to the Journal Sentinel.
“It’s now spread to at least five counties,” a source told the paper. The same source said that Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Bruce Landgraf had been investigating “all over the place.”
The case apparently opened in February 2012. And according to the Journal Sentinel, the investigation is looking at a number of issues, including the recall races, a current legislative leader, and the 2012 gubernatorial recall contest between Walker and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.
The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TPM.
