Burke Says John Doe Probe Should Continue

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke said on Thursday that she thinks an investigation involving Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign and conservative groups should be allowed to continue.

The probe, known as “John Doe 2,” was looking into whether Walker’s campaign illegally coordinated with conservative groups during Wisconsin’s recall elections. One barrier to the investigation continuing, an injunction issued by a federal judge that had shut down the John Doe for several months, was overturned by a federal appeals court on Wednesday.

Asked about the ruling, Burke said the John Doe had raised questions, citing a previously secret donation from the mining company Gogebic Taconite to the Wisconsin Club for Growth.

“Certainly, I think people have questions. When you see a $700,000 secret campaign donation and after that a mining company gets the rules changed that benefit themselves, I think most people think that if that’s not illegal, it should be. So this should be a matter that the courts are able to pursue,” said Burke.

The investigation is still held up in state court for the time being. State Judge Gregory Peterson ruled the investigation was overly broad earlier this year, though he acknowledged that an appeals court might view the issue differently.