MILWAUKEE, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Two staffers for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker when he was Milwaukee County executive were charged Thursday with doing political work on county time.
Kelly Rindfleisch was deputy chief of staff to Walker in 2010, while Darlene Wink was his constituent services coordinator, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Rindfleisch faces four felony charges for allegedly working on a congressional campaign, while Wink is charged with two misdemeanors for allegedly raising money for Walker's gubernatorial campaign.
Walker, a Republican, was elected governor in November 2010 with 52 percent of the vote. His successful drive last year to pass a bill stripping public employees of collective bargaining rights has made him controversial in and outside of Wisconsin, and opponents apparently have gathered sufficient signatures to subject him to recall.
Milwaukee County prosecutors said Walker's top county staffers created a private e-mail network that allowed them to avoid public scrutiny of their discussions.
Prosecutors have been investigating Walker's county staff for almost two years. Two former Walker staffers have been charged with stealing $60,000 in donations to Operation Freedom, an event honoring veterans.
