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Francis Schmitz, the special prosecutor appointed to lead the John Doe probe into Wisconsin's 2011 and 2012 recall elections, is rejecting Republican Gov. Scott Walker's contention that partisanship is behind the investigation.

"Mr. Schmitz spent over forty years serving his nation as an Army officer and as a federal prosecutor in the United States Department of Justice," Schmitz's attorney, Randall Crocker, said in an email to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "As a prosecutor, he represented the United States in both criminal cases and on counterterrorism task forces. He was a finalist for the position of U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin during the administration of George W. Bush."

Schmitz, through his lawyer, was responding to questions from PolitiFact Wisconsin about the investigation after the prosecution theory of the case — that Walker illegally coordinated with conservative groups on fundraising — became public in a lawsuit.

Walker's campaign on Friday said "the accusation of any wrongdoing written in the complaint by the office of a partisan Democrat District Attorney by me or by my campaign is categorically false. In fact two judges, in both state and federal courts, have ruled that no laws were broken."

That "Democrat District Attorney" is John Chisholm, the Milwaukee County DA, whose office initiated the investigation before it expanded to four other southern Wisconsin counties. Along with Chisholm, the DAs in those counties — two Republicans and two Democrats — said they sought an independent prosecutor to avoid partisan concerns. Schmitz was appointed by a judge in the John Doe case.

"Mr. Schmitz swore an oath when he accepted his appointment to lead the John Doe investigations in accordance with the law and on behalf of the State of Wisconsin. He has kept that oath," Crocker's statement on behalf of Schmitz said.

Crocker wrote that Schmitz, along with the attorneys he works with, are career prosecutors who make their decisions based on the facts and the law.

"Mr. Schmitz also believes in upholding the purpose of Wisconsin's campaign finance laws — as set out in Wisconsin Statute 11.001 — that 'our democratic system of government can be maintained only if the electorate is informed.' Wisconsin has a compelling interest in a campaign finance system that 'must make readily available to the voters complete information as to who is supporting or opposing which candidate or cause.'"

Crocker noted that Schmitz was being sued in his personal and official capacity in a federal civil rights case filed in Milwaukee for his actions as special prosecutor.

The action was filed by a conservative group, Wisconsin Club for Growth, that is under investigation in the case.

As part of the lawsuit, Federal Appeals Judge Frank Easterbrook unsealed various documents, including the Schmitz-authored legal brief laying out the basis for starting the Doe.

In the documents, prosecutors laid out what they call an extensive "criminal scheme" to bypass state election laws by Walker, his campaign and two top Republican political operatives — R.J. Johnson and Deborah Jordahl — associated with Club for Growth.

No one has been charged. The Doe probe is on hold after Federal Judge Rudolph Randa said it appeared to violate the Wisconsin Club for Growth's constitutional rights. He issued a preliminary injunction, and his order is being appealed.

In the statement on behalf of Schmitz, Crocker said: "Because a secrecy order governs the John Doe investigations, Mr. Schmitz had no reason to believe this brief would be released to the public when it was drafted."

Crocker said the Doe investigations would remain halted pending the appeals in state and federal court.

PolitiFact Wisconsin ruled "False" a Walker statement that the Doe investigation has been "resolved" and two judges said it was "over."