The legal defense fund paid out a total of about $450,000 before it closed in March 2013, shortly after Milwaukee County prosecutors closed an earlier John Doe probe that resulted in six convictions of Walker’s Milwaukee County aides and their associates. Walker was not charged with any wrongdoing in that probe.

Walker’s campaign disclosed another $300,000 in legal fees in previous campaign finance reports. The Government Accountability Board, the state’s nonpartisan elections agency, said earlier this year that politicians can use campaign funds to pay legal fees incurred when they are under civil or criminal investigation. They must use a separate criminal defense fund once an investigation becomes “purely a criminal one.”

Asked for comment about the expenses, Walker campaign spokeswoman Alleigh Marre said, “The campaign relies on these firms for a variety of legal services.”

Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokeswoman Melissa Baldauff called the amount of money the campaign has spent on legal fees “completely stunning.”

“The bipartisan (John Doe) investigation isn’t over yet, and we have every reason to believe Walker will spend tens of thousands more, but the staggering amount already spent should be a huge concern for every Wisconsinite who cares about good government,” Baldauff said.

Contact Matthew DeFour at 608-252-6144 or mdefour@madison.com. Contact Mary Spicuzza at 608-252-6122 or mspicuzza@madison.com.

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