Special prosecutor: Wisconsin Gov. Walker was not a target of investigation

MADISON, Wis., June 27 (UPI) -- Gov. Scott Walker was not a target of an investigation into possible violations of Wisconsin's campaign finance laws, the special prosecutor's lawyer said.

Court documents unsealed last week by a federal judge, included one in which the special prosecutor, Francis Schmitz, suggested Walker and top aides were involved in a "criminal scheme" involving illegal coordination with an outside group.

Schmitz's lawyer, Randall Crocker, released a statement Thursday: "Governor Walker was not a target of the investigation. At no time has he been served with a subpoena."

Walker charges the investigation was political. It involves fundraising for recall elections after the Republican governor took on public employee unions.

The investigation has been put on hold, at least temporarily. The Club for Growth Wisconsin has sued in federal court to end it permanently. Crocker's statement suggested Walker is not in the clear if the investigation is allowed to resume.

"Contained in these documents is a reference to the request for production of documents that relates to an alleged criminal scheme. Gov. Walker's name was included in this reference," Crocker said. "While these documents outlined the prosecutor's legal theory, they did not establish the existence of a crime; rather, they were arguments in support of further investigation to determine if criminal charges against any person or entity are warranted."

Walker called the statement "one more step in setting the record straight." The Republican governor has charged the investigation is a political witch hunt.

Schmitz was conducting what is known as a John Doe investigation, allowed in Wisconsin and a few other states. Prosecutors can hold the investigation in secret and order both targets and witnesses to make no public statements about it.