As the old adage goes, shit happens. This is especially true in the world of government. 

With something as large and complicated as, say, a state government or a campaign for office, things are bound to go wrong. For this reason, some mistakes are forgivable.  If one bad apple slips through the vetting and interview process, it’s not a big deal. If an employee gets careless and says something offensive in public, it’s excusable. Even if someone violates a law or two, it’s not necessarily the end of the world. Especially in the world of campaigning and government, there are myriad laws and regulations by which workers must abide. 

However, when these incidents are no longer isolated but instead are part of a larger trend, it’s a signal that something is seriously wrong. In the case of Gov. Scott Walker and the John Doe investigation of former aides and appointees, it may be time to sound the alarm. 
 

As reported by the Wisconsin State Journal, the John Doe probe into illegal acts committed by former Walker campaign staff in Milwaukee County has been going on for over 20 months, resulting in charges being filed against six individuals. Several are charged with conducting political fundraising while working for the county. The most noteworthy charges involve embezzling funds meant for veterans. One former aide is accused of using more than $20,000 intended for veterans to fund personal vacations to Hawaii and the Caribbean. As if that weren’t enough, a Walker appointee is accused of stealing at least $40,000 meant to help wounded veterans and children whose parents were killed in action. Classy. 

As part of the investigation and at the request of Milwaukee County’s district attorney, Walker will meet with prosecutors. In preparation for the meeting, he has hired two criminal defense attorneys. Walker claims that the meeting is voluntary, though the DA’s office wouldn’t comment on the matter. Walker’s response, as reported by WTMJ4, when asked if he would have been subpoenaed had he not “voluntarily” met with the DA, is noteworthy for being hilariously nonsensical: “I hadn’t had any personal communication beyond that. So that’s one where we offered, we offered in the past, as the statement said and we’ll follow the lead of those looking into it.” 

Whatever that means.
 

If true, these charges will reveal what is shaping up to be a pattern of former Walker staff and appointees committing serious crimes while in office. Walker, who has long been controversial for his policies, risks becoming controversial for legal reasons, or worse, possibly illegal ones.

Should the charges prove to be true, and especially if they reach to Walker himself, those of us advocating for the recall of Walker will have one more reason to have him voted out.
 

Of course, the investigation is far from over, and the jury is still out. It’s too soon to draw any definite conclusions this early in the investigation. Only time will tell.
However, with several former staff and appointees facing various felonies, things aren’t exactly looking up for Walker.   

Joe Timmerman ([email protected]) is a freshman majoring in math and economics.