SHARE About John Doe Separate but related criminal investigations initiated by Milwaukee County prosecutors have examined events and activities during Scott Walker's time as Milwaukee County executive and as governor. Prosecutors have conducted the probes under the state's "John Doe" statutes that grant extraordinary powers to investigators to compel testimony and maintain secrecy. The first John Doe investigation, begun in 2010, led to convictions of six Walker aides, associates or appointees on charges ranging from theft from a veteran's group to misconduct in office. The second Doe probe, launched in 2012, looked into coordination between conservative political organizations and Walker and other candidates during recall elections. The second probe was halted in May 2014 by a federal judge who agreed that the investigation denied one of the conservative groups' its free-speech rights. No charges have been filed in the second investigation. Walker has denied wrongdoing. See full coverage in John Doe special section

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Madison— Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm and his investigators argued in court documents Friday that Attorney General Brad Schimel had defamed them by saying they had illegally possessed material they collected in recent probes.

"The investigator defendants are lifelong civil servants, and they do not deserve to be the target of the attorney general's defamatory attacks. It is shameful that law enforcement officers have to fear that their own attorney general will trample on their reputations in the media just to score political points," wrote the investigators' attorney, Samuel Leib.

The defamation claim is the latest point of contention over probes into GOP Gov. Scott Walker's campaign and his aides and associates. The investigations were conducted in secret under the John Doe law, which allows prosecutors to force people to give testimony and turn over documents.

The first probe resulted in six convictions. The second one — into Walker's campaign and conservative groups backing him — was halted last year by the state Supreme Court, which ordered prosecutors to turn over to the court all material they had gathered.

Both probes were launched by the Democratic district attorney; he was assisted in the second probe by other prosecutors.

Former Walker aide Cindy Archer sued Chisholm and investigators in his office in federal court last year, arguing her civil rights were violated when her home was raided in 2011 as part of the first probe. Archer was not charged.

The investigators — David Budde, Robert Stelter and Aaron Weiss — have asked U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman to allow them to retain evidence they gathered despite the state Supreme Court's order to give up that material. They argue they need it so they can defend themselves against Archer's lawsuit.

The GOP attorney general last month filed a friend-of-the-court brief contending they should not be able to have that material because the state Supreme Court has found they were not entitled to it.

Responding Friday, Leib argued it was inappropriate for Schimel to make the filing because his office had earlier refused to participate in the probe and litigation related to it, citing conflicts of interest.

"While the attorney general's abrupt decision to ignore the conflicts of interest that have precluded his office's involvement in the John Doe matters is troubling, his failure to apprise the court of the same is inexcusable," Leib wrote.

He contended Schimel had defamed the investigators by saying in interviews with conservative radio hosts that they had obtained evidence illegally and had stolen the material.

Anne Schwartz, spokeswoman for Schimel, declined to comment late Friday.

Leib argued the investigators deserved to have access to the evidence, which included the recordings of execution of search warrants, photographs and interview transcripts.

An attorney for Chisholm on Friday filed a short letter with the court saying he was joining the arguments made by the investigators.

It is unclear when Adelman might rule on whether prosecutors and investigators can retain the evidence. He will hear from attorneys in the case on March 3.

Chisholm and other prosecutors have told the state Supreme Court they will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to get involved in the decision to stop the investigation. Prosecutors have maintained state Justices Michael Gableman and David Prosser should not have participated in the case because their campaigns benefited from groups accused of working closely with Walker's campaign.