Walker, Dems still at odds on John Doe

GREEN BAY - The case is closed: The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office says Scott Walker will not be charged in connection with the John Doe investigation of his aides while he was Milwaukee County Executive.

Friday’s disclosure ends a multi-year investigation that ended in convictions for some of Walker's close Milwaukee aides.

Those convictions ranged from campaign finance fraud to embezzlement.

Governor Scott Walker maintained his innocence Friday.

With the John Doe investigation into corruption at the Milwaukee County Executive's Office now closed, Walker released the following statement:

"I am glad the process has been completed. As many may remember, this entire matter began when we asked the District Attorney to look into concerns we had with respect to Operation Freedom. We appreciate the effort that was undertaken to bring appropriate matters to justice."

The investigation began in 2010.

Last year, campaign finance documents showed Walker had established a legal defense fund. As of February first of this year, it had $200,000.

Democrats like State Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca say Walker still needs to own up to what he knew.

“But now it’s time for him to talk. It’s time for him to talk and take some ownership and responsibility for the people he hired and what happened,” Barca said at an event at Marquette University in Milwaukee.

Democrats still allege Walker must have known what went on with staffers, particularly those working on behalf of his campaign during their normal county employee hours.

The party urges Walker to personally release emails that had been subpoenaed by the investigation.

The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office won't be releasing more records involved in the case.

District Attorney John Chisholm released a statement Friday. It said:

"By its very nature, a John Doe proceeding is a secret investigation, intended to prevent the public disclosure of allegations that are not well-supported by evidence. Information developed in a John Doe proceeding is made public only in the context of criminal charges and in the proceedings following such charges."

Five people were charged and convicted during the John Doe investigation.

Tim Russell was the deputy chief of staff when Walker was Milwaukee County Executive. He will serve two years in prison for embezzling money from a non-profit.

Another aide, Kevin Kavanaugh will spend two years in prison for embezzling more than $50,000 from the Veterans Service Commission.

Darlene Wink is sentenced to a year's probation for working on Walker's gubernatorial campaign while on county time.  

Kelly Rindfleisch also got six months in jail for doing campaign work on county time.

William Gardner was sentenced to two years probation for laundering campaign donations and exceeding campaign fund limits.