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An assistant to the federal judge who ordered a halt to the state’s secret investigation into possible illegal campaign coordination between Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign and conservative groups is married to a lawyer for Walker’s campaign — which could be grounds for a judge to step down from a case.

Steven Biskupic, a former U.S. attorney who is representing a party in the secretive John Doe probe, wouldn’t say Thursday whether his wife Cary Biskupic’s employment with Judge Rudolph Randa posed a conflict of interest. Instead, in an email to the State Journal, he offered information indicating separation between himself and the lawsuit brought by Eric O’Keefe and the Wisconsin Club for Growth against prosecutors in the John Doe investigation.

“For the time period that my wife has worked for Judge Randa, I have not and would not appear in front of him on any matter,” Steven Biskupic said. “I have not been and will not be involved in the O’Keefe federal lawsuit. Even before the case was assigned to Judge Randa, I and my partner would not and could not participate in a lawsuit against Fran Schmitz personally.”

Schmitz, who is also a former U.S. attorney, is the lead prosecutor in the John Doe investigation. He was appointed after five district attorneys involved in the case agreed to appoint a single lead investigator.