The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Thursday Gov. Scott Walker did not violate campaign finance laws during his recall elections, and ordered prosecutors to end the investigation.
The ruling is a big win for Walker, who officially entered the 2016 presidential race Monday.
A lower court ruled 18 months ago the alleged activity was not illegal, even if it had occurred, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court concurred in its majority decision Thursday, reported the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
“To be clear, this conclusion ends the John Doe investigation because the special prosecutor’s legal theory is unsupported in either reason or law,” Justice Michael Gableman wrote in the majority decision. “Consequently, the investigation is closed.” (RELATED: Politico Begs National Media To Trump Up Fruitless Walker Investigation)
Prosecutors had been conducting a “John Doe” investigation into Walker and conservative groups who supported him in his 2012 and 2014 reelection bids, alleging they illegally worked together. These special “John Doe” investigations, allowed by Wisconsin law, can include strict secrecy requirements on the part of the people or organizations being investigated.
In this case prosecutors conducted secret, sometimes violent raids on the homes of people connected to Walker’s victory in his recall election. The National Review reported four accounts from people who were targeted, describing pre-dawn raids in which officers came in with guns loaded, turned the house upside down and then ordered everyone there not to speak a word to anyone, not even a lawyer. (RELATED: Another Shocking Wisconsin Home Invasion Story Tied To Walker Investigation)
Prosecutors did not turn up any evidence to support their allegation that Walker and these conservatives participated in a “criminal scheme,” during this investigation.
The court ordered the special prosecutor and the district attorneys involved in the investigation to cease all activities related to the investigation, return all property seized in connection with the investigation and permanently destroy copies of everything obtained through the investigation.
This was the second of two extensive and thorough investigations into Walker covering his time as a county executive and his gubernatorial campaigns. The first resulted in the conviction of six county employees under Walker who were using taxpayer dollars illegally, but prosecutors found no evidence implicating Walker.
Wisconsin political activist Eric O’Keefe and the Wisconsin Club for Growth have brought a federal lawsuit challenging the investigations, and the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to announce soon whether it will review the lawsuit.
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