The investigation into Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker is "ill-conceived" and should be stopped immediately, says Washington attorney and conservative activist Cleta Mitchell.
A federal judge has ruled that the investigation is an "egregious" breach of First Amendment rights, Mitchell, a partner at Foley & Lardner, told "America's Forum" host J.D. Hayworth on
Newsmax TV Friday.
Walker is
accused of illegally coordinating fundraising with conservative groups, which he vehemently denies.
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"We tried to take the government away from the big government special interest and put it firmly in the hands of the hardworking taxpayers, both at the state level and the local governments," Walker, a Republican and potential 2016 presidential candidate, told "Fox & Friends" on Friday.
The accusations were revealed in court documents unsealed as part of an ongoing lawsuit challenging the investigation by the conservative group Wisconsin Club for Growth. No charges have been filed against Walker or any member of his staff.
Mitchell said after the federal ruling, prosecutors appealed to "continue to pursue their witch hunt. So we're waiting now for yet another judge to weigh in and to see if they're going to be allowed to continue this incredibly, unbelievably ill-conceived and restrictive, unconstitutional investigation."
And, Mitchell said, "the people of Wisconsin need to be — I don't care what your political persuasion is — they should not allow these ridiculous proceedings to continue."
Such investigations could end up discouraging the public from running for election, she said.
"I've been getting emails and calls from people from all over the country who want to tell me things but they're scared to death," said Mitchell. "They're federal employees, they're willing to tell the truth, but they're scared to death. They say we're being watched like hawks. So we are in very dangerous times in our country."
She called the Walker investigation "the Democrats' latest ploy" to get "conservatives and Republicans to just shut up."
"They've even got a bill now with 41 Democratic senators to amend the First Amendment to cut off our free speech rights," Mitchell contended. "Those of us who believe in the First Amendment know there has been no law broken."
And Democrats are fighting against Walker because "he has been very brave."
She expects Walker, who has not been charged, to eventually be exonerated, but compares the case to that of Texas lawmaker Tom DeLay, who eventually was absolved of false charges of campaign finance violations.
"This is the second 'John Doe' proceeding the prosecutor brought against Scott Walker," said Mitchell. The first one wasted taxpayer dollars and "absolutely found zero."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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