Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

Advertisements
Advertisements

Ex-Walker aide granted immunity

Prosecutors cleared a Milwaukee real estate broker’s involvement in the ongoing John Doe investigation into Gov. Scott Walker’s activities as former Milwaukee county executive.

A statement from the Milwaukee’s District Attorney’s office to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel confirmed Andrew Jensen had been cleared of involvement in the investigation.

“The District Attorney’s office has also indicated that Mr. Jensen will not be charged and that clients of the Boerke Company will not be involving themselves in this matter as a result of their working relationship with Mr. Jensen or the Boerke Company,” District Attorney John Chisholm said in the statement.

Advertisements

The statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said Jensen and his company are pleased to have this matter behind them, adding the investigation had Jensen’s full cooperation and he answered all of the investigator’s questions.

The nearly two-year long probe has already led to charges against three of Walker’s former county aides, one appointee and a campaign contributor.

Common Cause in Wisconsin Executive Director Jay Heck said it is common for individuals to receive immunity from prosecution if they are willing to testify in an investigation.

“This seems like a pretty normal procedure; it happens all the time in John Doe investigations,” Heck said. “The fact that he’s going to be exonerated means that he agreed to provide information to the DA. It’s a trade for immunity.”

Heck said it is important to keep in mind that the schedule the Milwaukee DA keeps is not dependent on the political schedule, adding it is a separate matter and should go forward as new evidence is gathered.

We Are Wisconsin, an organization promoting progressive policies in the state, did not return calls for comment but did release a statement Friday focusing on other former aides of Walker still under investigation, including Timothy Russell, a former Milwaukee County employee under Walker.

The organization said that in a recent development in his case, Russell may have cost Milwaukee County hundreds of thousands of dollars for having misappropriated $542,000 in federal Housing and Urban Development grants.

According to the statement, money from the Community Development Block Grants program was supposed to be steered toward low-income areas but was allegedly instead steered to middle-income and wealthier areas that did not qualify for the program’s grants.

These allegations come on top of charges already brought against Russell of embezzlement of more than $20,000 from Wisconsin veterans.

Advertisements
Leave a Comment
Donate to The Badger Herald

Your donation will support the student journalists of University of Wisconsin-Madison. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
Donate to The Badger Herald

Comments (0)

All The Badger Herald Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *