Judge Orders Release of Gov. Walker Recall Investigation Documents

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - A federal judge has ordered the public release of more than 100 documents in a secret investigation into Gov. Scott Walker's recall campaign and other conservative groups.

Wisconsin Public Radio reports U.S. District Judge Rudolph Randa issued his order Wednesday night after John Doe prosecutors said they no longer objected to publicizing the documents.

The attorney for special prosecutor Francis Schmitz wrote the case had "become so widely known that maintaining the integrity of the investigation may no longer justify maintaining secrecy.''

Five journalism groups initially asked for the documents' release.

Randa did grant a request by the conservative Wisconsin Club for Growth to keep four documents private, after the group's attorneys claimed the documents could harm the group's First Amendment privilege.