Prosecutors file new appeal to keep 'John Doe' investigation alive (WI)

[Eugene]

12. Wisconsin campaign finance probe can continue: appeals court

Source: Reuters

Wisconsin campaign finance probe can continue: appeals court

BY BRENDAN O'BRIEN
MILWAUKEE Wed May 7, 2014 10:22pm EDT

(Reuters) - Wisconsin investigators can continue a secret probe into possible campaign finance law violations by conservative groups in the state, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Wednesday.

The order stopped for now enforcement of a federal judge's ruling that the 20-month investigation must be halted and records and property seized by investigators returned to the Wisconsin Club for Growth, the group that sued investigators.

U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Randa in Milwaukee on Tuesday had said the club and its director were relieved of any and all duty to cooperate with the secret investigation.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago said in its order on Wednesday that Randa should not have entered a preliminary injunction halting the "John Doe" probe because he knew investigators were planning to appeal.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/08/us-usa-politics-wisconsin-idUSBREA4702220140508