Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker: No 'new news' in court documents release

MADISON, Wis., June 20 (UPI) -- Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said Friday that state prosecutors have been going after him because he took on "big government special interests."

In an appearance on the Fox News Channel, Walker said court documents released Thursday are "not new news, it's just newly released." The documents, unsealed by a U.S. appeals judge, Frank Easterbrook, said prosecutors believe Walker and two top aides were involved in a criminal conspiracy to evade state campaign finance laws.

Easterbrook is reviewing a lawsuit by the Wisconsin Club for Growth to determine if the investigation should be stopped. A state appeals judge has already quashed subpoenas, and a federal judge ordered a temporary halt to the probe of Walker's actions during 2011 and 2012 recall elections.

"They didn't think that anything was done was illegal, and so they've gone forward and not only said we don't buy it, they actually shut the case down, both at the state and the federal level," Walker said.

Walker became a hero to many conservatives in 2011 when he took on public employee unions. A battle over the state budget included Democratic lawmakers leaving Wisconsin so Republicans would not have a quorum and large demonstrations at the statehouse in Madison by Walker's opponents.

"This is a prime example of what happens when you take on the big government special interests," Walker said of the investigation. "They're looking for ways to come at us. They'll continue to do it. They did it two years ago in the recall election. They're going to do it again now. We've got another tough election this fall. And so they're going to come at it with just about everything out there. And at least many in the media are willing accomplices to this."