Skip to main content

AP source: Walker in talks to end campaign probe

By WTOP Staff

SCOTT BAUER
Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A person close to an investigation of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign and other conservative groups said Wednesday that Walker’s attorney is talking with the lead investigator about a possible settlement that would end the probe.

The person who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity said he could not do so publicly because of a secrecy order covering the investigation.

The person said he had spoken with several people with direct knowledge of the discussions between prosecutors and Walker’s attorney.

The secret investigation, known as a John Doe, began in August 2012 shortly after the Republican governor won a recall election. It focused on alleged illegal campaign fundraising, spending and coordination between conservative groups, Walker’s campaign and others during recall elections in both 2011 and 2012.

The investigation has been a distraction for Walker as he runs for re-election against Democrat Mary Burke, a former state commerce secretary and Trek Bicycle Corp. executive. Walker also is considering a run for president in 2016.

U.S. District Judge Rudolph Randa earlier this month halted the investigation, saying the probe violated the free speech rights of the Wisconsin Club for Growth, one of the conservative groups accused of illegally coordinating with Walker’s campaign. Prosecutors have appealed that ruling and have asked the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to put it on hold.

Under Wisconsin law, prosecutors can launch John Doe investigations that are overseen by judges and conducted largely in secret. Many details about this case have only come to light through leaks and court orders like Randa’s ruling.

There always are settlement talks during investigations, but it would be surprising at this point if Walker took a deal, said Mike Maistelman, a Milwaukee attorney who has represented Democratic and Republican elected officials in a variety of cases.

“He’s had a number of victories in the courts now,” Maistelman said. “I don’t think it would behoove him to cut a deal and throw people under the bus, alienate his base, while he’s considering a run for president.”

The Wall Street Journal first reported in a Wednesday editorial on the negotiations between Walker’s attorney and Francis Schmitz, the prosecutor overseeing the investigation.

Walker’s attorney, Steven Biskupic, declined to comment Wednesday. Walker, following a tour of a business outside of Milwaukee, also declined to comment when asked about the report.

“As I pointed out before, the bottom line is, per the law, people who know anything about it are prohibited from talking about it, and people who don’t know anything about it shouldn’t be talking about it,” Walker said. “So either way I don’t talk about it.”

Schmitz also declined to comment, citing the judge’s order of secrecy.

David Rivkin, lead attorney for Wisconsin Club for Growth and its board member Eric O’Keefe, sent Schmitz’s attorney a letter Wednesday saying Schmitz risks being in contempt of violating the preliminary injunction halting the investigation for talking with Walker about a deal. Rivkin also expressed concern that any deal could impose restrictions on actions of issue advocacy groups.

“Let me be perfectly clear: a settlement that seeks, in any fashion, to further the John Doe investigation by violating Mr. O’Keefe’s or the Club’s speech or associational rights would be a blatant violation of the preliminary injunction,” Rivkin wrote.

Schmitz has not violated the judge’s order, his attorney Randall Crocker said in an email.

Crocker filed a request with the judge late Wednesday seeking to clarify the scope of the preliminary injunction and whether it encompassed Schmitz’s discussions with attorneys for targets of the probe.

___

Follow Scott Bauer on Twitter at https://twitter.com/sbauerAP

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote