Walker is the Wisconsin governor who survived a strong effort to take him out of office. The reasons? Corruption in a governor who never met a corporation or a scion of huge wealth he didn’t love. That love didn’t extend to the makers of that wealth — the laborers in his home state. Walker was a union-buster straight out of the old days of union-busting.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who has been eyeing a 2016 presidential run since his battles with labor unions made him a Republican star, is in the midst of dealing with the fallout of two criminal investigations at home that could complicate his move to the national stage.
One is ongoing, and while the other is now closed with no allegations of wrongdoing by Walker, it has the lingering potential to embarrass him. …WaPo
He managed to dodge (just!) the recall effort in 2012. In spite of that mess, he still aspires to the presidency. But his past may catch up with him.
That could begin as early as Wednesday with the release of more than 25,000 pages of e-mails from an ex-staffer that were gathered as part of the now-concluded investigation. The probe focused on Walker’s time as Milwaukee County executive before his 2010 election as governor and led to convictions of six former aides and allies.
Even if Walker escapes the e-mail release unscathed, he faces an additional inquiry from state prosecutors, who are believed to be looking into whether his successful 2012 recall campaign illegally coordinated with independent conservative groups. …WaPo
Wisconsin Democrats. who so nearly managed to recall the governor, are hopeful. The investigations have been slow but comprehensive.
On the other hand, some fear (or hope) the “slow-moving glacier” of investigation may wind up hurting Democratic interests as the governor is perceived as victim of left-wing extremists. You know: extremists who cling to the crazy notions of open government and fair elections.