• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Legislature / Bill would limit political John Doe probes in Wisconsin

Bill would limit political John Doe probes in Wisconsin

March 11, 2015 By Bob Hague

Sen. Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst)

Sen. Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst)

A state Senate committee took testimony Wednesday, on legislation rewriting Wisconsin’s John Doe law. “Two things that this bill is about. It’s about accountability and transparency,” said state Senator Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst), the bill’s author.

Existing law allows prosecutors – under judicial supervision – to investigate whether or not crimes have been committed. Tiffany said the law “does serve some good purpose,” but argued that Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm abused the law and “was obsessed with getting involved in the political process.” That John Doe investigation was launched in 2013, looking into possible illegal coordination between conservative groups and Republican candidates in state recall elections in 2011 and 2012. A federal judge halted the proceedings last year.

Madison attorney Dean Strang testified in favor of the bill, and said he’s seen the state’s John Doe law abused too many times. “It’s not the people we’re worried about, it’s the tools we empower them to use, because law enforcement is competitive, make no mistake about that,” Strang said.

But former Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann argued that the bill is motivated by partisanship. “Senate Bill 43 guts the strength of the John Doe, by removing numerous crimes for which public officials have been convicted in the past,” McCann said. Among those convicted through such probes, former legislative leaders Chuck Chvala and Scott Jensen, following the legislative caucus scandals more than a decade ago.

Critics allege the bill is a partisan effort to “wall off” politicians from being targeted by John Doe probes. “This is an attempt to end the John Doe in Milwaukee, so prosecutions won’t ensue against an organization that may give to Republicans, or Republican officeholders,” McCann said.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Legislature, News, Politics / Govt



Featured Stories

Big Ten Men’s & Women’s basketball Tournaments to Allow Limited Fan Attendance

Brewers to open season with fans

Report: Former Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. to sign with Brewers

Seven Badgers honored by the WCHA

Panthers rally to upset Wright State in Horizon League quarterfinals

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Big Ten Men’s & Women’s basketball Tournaments to Allow Limited Fan Attendance

Brewers to open season with fans

Report: Former Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. to sign with Brewers

Seven Badgers honored by the WCHA

Panthers rally to upset Wright State in Horizon League quarterfinals

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2021 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC