An old adage says:



Where there's smoke, there's usually fire.

It looks like there may be plenty in the newly revealed John Doe Probe which is active in several counties in Wisconsin looking at possible illegal coordination between outside groups like Club for Growth and Americans for Prosperity with Republican campaigns. The first John Doe, which examined affairs in Scott Walkers Milwaukee County Executive Office, culminating with 5 convictions of Walkers associates, was met with "son of a preacher man and former Eagle Scout" talking points from Walker. On the newly revealed secret investigation, Walker has been pretty mum.

Not so much silence from others. RW AM hate radio has been screetching "partisan witch hunt" from their high powered radio transmitters since the investigation was revealed, RW "news" and blog sites have been denouncing the probe will all caps blaring, and 3 unnamed petitioners, who have requested anonymity, have filed petitions with the Court of Appeals to halt the probe.

This is very much unlike the occasional "nothing to see here" mentions that the original John Doe got until charges were filed and the plea bargaining started.

There seems to be a pile-on to submit briefs to the Appeals Court in advance of their decision with multiple parties submitting briefs and some of it seems to be grasping at straws.



The petitioners are challenging the ability to appoint a special prosecutor in the case and the ability to run coordinated John Doe probes across multiple counties. Observers have said the case could eventually hinge on free speech questions.

Considering the hammering the Milwaukee County District Attorneys office took from the RW media machine once charges were filed and convictions obtained, it seems reasonable to appoint a special prosecutor who won't have to worry about getting smeared in future elections or have politics interfere. As to free speech, how does free speech even enter into the equation when coordinating between outside monied groups and campaigns, if it can be proven, is illegal?