Legal price tag for officials sued in John Doe probe nears $300,000

Madison — The price tag continues to rise for a secret investigation into the 2012 recalls, with the cost so far at $295,600 just to defend state prosecutors, judges and elections officials against lawsuits by targets of the probe.

The final total could go well beyond that.

The conservative Wisconsin Club for Growth and one of its directors on Feb. 10 filed a federal lawsuit against authorities carrying out the John Doe probe, arguing that it violates their constitutional rights to free speech and equal protection. The Club followed that up with another lawsuit in state court last week against election officials in the state Government Accountability Board.

That latest lawsuit will lead to yet another private law firm being hired to represent the GAB as special counsel. "Counsel has not yet been hired, but has been requested," said Laurel Patrick, press secretary for Governor Scott Walker.

The outside attorney for the GAB is necessary because the state Department of Justice is refusing to represent more state employees in the lawsuits, because it currently represents Reserve Judge Gregory Peterson, who is overseeing the secret investigation.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/legal-pricetag-for-officials-sued-in-doe-prob


Drill baby drill!