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UPDATE: Prank Call Between Gov. Walker And A Fake David Koch

UPDATED Monday, March 7, 2011 --- 8:12 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The Wisconsin Democratic Party has filed an ethics complaint against Republican Gov. Scott Walker over statements he made during a recorded prank call.

In their complaint filed Monday with the Government Accountability Board, the Democrats claim Walker violated campaign finance laws by apparently asking for support for politically vulnerable Wisconsin Republican lawmakers from a caller who he thought was a wealthy campaign donor.

Walker's spokesman, Cullen Werwie, calls the allegations baseless.

The call to Walker was made by a left-leaning website. The caller claimed to be David Koch, one of two billionaire brothers who donate heavily to conservative causes.

Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne said last week that he found nothing about Walker's statements to merit a criminal investigation. He says he hasn't examined allegations of campaign finance violations.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Tuesday, March 1, 2011 --- 1:42 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne says he won't launch a criminal investigation into either Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker or the 14 Democrats who fled the state.

Ozanne says there's no evidence that Walker broke the law when he said "we considered" planting agitators in the crowd of protesters. Walker made the statement during a recorded phone call with a blogger who posed as campaign contributor David Koch.

The prosecutor says there's also no evidence the 14 Democratic state senators who fled Wisconsin committed a crime.

Ozanne is now urging state officials to comply with a Dane County judge's order to open the doors of the Capitol to the general public. Department of Administration officials say they're in compliance with the order but have continued to limit access.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Tuesday, March 1, 2011 --- 1:15 p.m.

The Dane County DA will not launch a formal criminal probe of a phone call between Gov. Scott Walker and the man who posed as David Koch.

Ismael Ozanne, DA, said in a mid-day press conference: "At this time I do not find any criminal liability."

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UPDATED Thursday, February 24, 2011--- 6:00 p.m.
By: Barclay Pollak

For 10 days now crowds have gathered in and outside of the Capitol cheering, chanting and, for the most part, remaining peaceful.

"I think so far that has happened. "

Now, Madison Police Chief Noble Wray is worried that streak may be in jeopardy.

Wednesday we learned about the prank call involving Governor Scott Walker. A man pretending to be billionaire David Koch called and suggested to Gov. Walker during a 20 minute conversation that he insert trouble makers into the crowd. Gov. Walker said that was considered, but ultimately shot down. And that is why Police Chief Wray is upset.

" You should never even consider...you should be advocating those conditions that put everyone in the best position to be safe."

Wray says he wants to give Gov. Walker the chance to clarify his statements. He adds that he's not doing this to further his own political agenda.

" I did not enter into the political realm. He entered into the public safety realm. When he entered into the public safety realm I feel compelled that I need to say something."

Chief Wray says so far he hasn't any contact with Gov. Walker or Gov. Walker's office. He says if he doesn't get a response he won't be upset, he'll be a professional.

Chief Wray says, " I'm a 27 year professional and I will work with anyone. "

NBC15 News did contact Gov. Walker's office for a comment. We were referred to his press conference yesterday where Gov. Walker defended the statements made in that prank phone call.

" The thing's I've said are things I've said publicly all along. The fact of the matter is people have brought up all sorts of different options and as you saw if you listened to the tape we put that down. "

Chief Wray says he has not personally reached out to Gov. Walker or his office. So far the two sides have not met.

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UPDATED Thursday, February 24, 2011 --- 10:00 a.m.

As we reported Wednesday, Governor Scott Walker took a prank phone call earlier this week. He thought he was speaking with David Koch when in reality he was being recorded by the editor of the news website "Buffalo Beast." In that phone call, Walker revealed his supporters considered bringing in outside agitators to stir up trouble with protesters, but he dismissed that idea.

In response to this development, Madison Police Chief Noble Wray issued this statement:

“I spent a good deal of time overnight thinking about Governor Walker’s response, during his news conference yesterday, to the suggestion that his administration ‘thought about’ planting troublemakers among those who are peacefully protesting his bill. I would like to hear more of an explanation from Governor Walker as to what exactly was being considered, and to what degree it was discussed by his cabinet members. I find it very unsettling and troubling that anyone would consider creating safety risks for our citizens and law enforcement officers. Our department works hard dialoging with those who are exercising their First Amendment right, those from both sides of the issue, to make sure we are doing everything we can to ensure they can demonstrate safely. I am concerned that anyone would try to undermine these relationships. I have a responsibility to the community, and to the men and women of this department - who are working long hours protecting and serving this community – to find out more about what was being considered by state leaders.”

The Madison Police Department also released the following statement:

“The men and the women of the Madison Police Department train for crowd situations where an agitator or provocateur may try to create safety risks for citizens and officers. During the demonstration around the Capitol Square no such situation has arisen. Crowd behavior has been exemplary, and thousands of Wisconsin citizens are to be commended for the peaceful ways in which they have expressed First Amendment rights.”

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UPDATED Wednesday, February 23, 2011 --- 3:25 p.m.

***NOTE: For a link to the prank call, click on the link below in the RELATED LINKS section.***

Wis. governor: Prank call won't be a distraction

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Gov. Scott Walker says he won't be distracted by a prank phone call made by a blogger posing as one of his campaign donors, and he'll push forward with a bill to limit the power of public employee unions.

Walker stood by his comments on the call, saying they were no different than what he has said publicly.

A website called the Buffalo Beast posted audio of Tuesday's call in which its editor pretended to be conservative billionaire David Koch, who had supported Walker's campaign. On the call, Walker talked about his strategy to pressure Senate Democrats who fled to Illinois to return to Wisconsin to vote on the bill.

Walker revealed his supporters considered bringing in outside agitators to stir up trouble with protesters, but he dismissed that idea.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Wednesday, February 23, 2011 --- 2:10 p.m.

Prankster who duped Wis. governor says it was easy

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The blogger who posed as conservative billionaire David Koch to prank Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says he is shocked how easily he was able to get through.

Ian Murphy is editor of the website the Buffalo Beast in New York. He said Wednesday he came up with the prank to test how easily Koch could speak to Walker when Democrats complained the governor doesn't return their calls.

Murphy says he arranged the call with Walker after speaking with two aides, including the governor's chief of staff. He says he made the call using Skype and posted audio online at 3 a.m. Wednesday.

On the call, Walker talks about his strategy in the state's ongoing battle over union rights and revealed plans to pressure Senate Democrats to come back to Wisconsin.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Wednesday, February 23, 2011 --- 10:45 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has been lured into a conversation about his strategy to cripple public employee unions by a prank caller pretending to be a billionaire Republican donor.

Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie confirms the governor is on audio of the call posted Wednesday on the website of the Buffalo Beast, a left-leaning New York newspaper.

The governor believes the caller is conservative businessman David Koch. He talks about plans for layoff notices and what can be done to punish lawmakers who've left the state.

The caller suggests Walker take a baseball bat when meeting with Democrats. Walker jokes he has "a slugger with my name on it."

Brothers David and Charles Koch have given millions to support Americans For Prosperity, which has launched a $320,000 ad campaign supporting Walker.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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Posted Wednesday, February 23, 2011 --- 10:25 a.m.

This morning, the Governor's Office confirmed that Governor Scott Walker was the victim of a prank call, by a man posing as financial backer David Koch. That prank call is now going viral.

***Statement on Prank Call - From the Governor's Office:***

Madison—Today Governor Walker’s spokesman, Cullen Werwie, Released the following statement:

The Governor takes many calls everyday. Throughout this call the Governor maintained his appreciation for and commitment to civil discourse. He continued to say that the budget repair bill is about the budget. The phone call shows that the Governor says the same thing in private as he does in public and the lengths that others will go to disrupt the civil debate Wisconsin is having.

NOTE: For a link to the prank call, click on the link below in the RELATED LINKS section.


Comments (237)

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  • by Anonymous on Mar 9, 2011 at 02:16 PM
    Nate, if you knew anything about economics you wouldn't be worshiping VOODOO ENONOMICS. Let's try boosting America's economy not China's.
  • by GETTING SICK OF THE GAMES on Mar 9, 2011 at 02:10 PM
    I too am sick of the games played by the prince. NEOGOTIATE NOW!! Only moron would come back to this state to vote on bill jammed down the working classes throats. You may fool the blind followers, however anyone with any common sense knows you will destroy the economy while you fill your pockets with kickbacks.
  • by Walker's not as smart as he...never mind. Location: Not fooled in America's Private Sector on Mar 9, 2011 at 09:48 AM
    Otto, If you want to whine about something. Whine about the fact that the governor is kissing up to the wealthy off the back of the middle class. That's YOUR tax cut that Koch is getting. And once this bill passes, Koch can buy the up power plants and you can pay through nose for power. That should be Walker's slogan "TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH, SO THEY HAVE THE ****POWER**** TO DIG INTO YOUR POCKETS"
  • by Empower the Middle Class and we will feed the "poor" wealthy Location: Private Sector on Mar 9, 2011 at 09:40 AM
    joe, take away the tax cuts for the wealthy and give those cuts to the middle class then we will strengthen the economy. I am not stupid enough to wait for my trickle of copper from Koch or king Walker.
  • by Not fooled Location: Private Sector on Mar 9, 2011 at 09:36 AM
    Tax breaks for the wealthy are merely jobs for the Chinese. Give me a tax break and I will support the local restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, tourist attractions, and other local businesse. WE ARE WHAT WHAT DRIVES THE ECONOMY, NOT THE WEALTHY!! Voodoo Economics does not work, just ask George Bush Sr. when he raised taxes to clean up the Reagan mess.
  • by Billy Location: Reedsburg on Mar 9, 2011 at 08:39 AM
    GIMMIE A BREAK! There should be ethics charges filed against the 14 Democratic senators who aren't showing up for work! And tell me why 18% of the population needs collective bargaining when the rest of us don't have it? Unions are outdated political machines. My son was a teacher and was forced to be in the union and guess what, his dues went to support their unbiased Democratic position even though he didn't agree with it! IS THAT FAIR!
  • by Tanya on Mar 9, 2011 at 07:52 AM
    @AL I agree. He stops funding local government because of the "budget crises" then gives $1 million to Wisconsin Dells to promote, funding private schools and giving tax break when they're making billions?? Or not collecting unpaid tax from corporation(walker's favorites!) which is a few billions? Now Madison is talking about raising bus riding fee, and this is only beginning. We're going to see lower quality of services in every local level. In janesville, the classroom size will be bigger. Can you imagine 25 kindergartners in one class? It sounds like what is going to happen. Those walker supporters, please don't whine then.
  • by AL Location: Madison on Mar 9, 2011 at 07:07 AM
    Funny thing is 90% of the people that support this guy are being hurt by this guy and don't even realize. He isn't making these cuts to help the middle class, he's just going to give tax breaks to the wealthy. Your property taxes will go up, services you use will go down, and your children will be less educates, all for what, to give more tax breaks to rich people and claim it creates jobs. Bush tried that already and guess what, it didn't work. Tax breaks alone do not create demand for products and services. Demand is needed to create jobs, not just investment money.
  • by joe on Mar 8, 2011 at 03:02 PM
    @ real deal and lower middle class...the reason the collective bargaining is such a key factor is it eliminates the possibility of a renegotiation of these concessions in the next set of contract talks. Why do you think the Union Bosses are so ready to give in on these? Becuase they still collect their money (off the top) dues don't go down because you concede a pay freeze. Only the employee gets screwed, the Uninon doesn't. Take away the Union and the Employees at least get to keep those dues.
  • by New Crew Location: Madison on Mar 8, 2011 at 11:27 AM
    ... yet, dillusional people like Ryan still LOVE the Governor...

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