Released Emails Show Tight Connections Around Walker’s 2010 Campaign Staff, Executive Office

Thousands of emails released Wednesday from a former Scott Walker aide showed a tight knit relationship between Walker’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign and his government staff at the Milwaukee County executive’s office.

The emails gave more context to the sheer volume of campaign work being done by former Walker aide Kelly Rindfleisch when she worked just feet away from Walker in the Milwaukee County executive’s office. Rindfleisch was a relentless fundraiser for Brett Davis, who was the Walker campaign’s top choice for lieutenant governor. In between Davis fundraising emails, she would take direction from Walker’s gubernatorial campaign manager, doing background research to help Walker respond to attacks from his gubernatorial opponents.

Rindfleisch has already pleaded guilty to a felony and faces six months in jail. Walker was never charged.

Democrats seized on the latest emails, however, with state Democratic Party Chair Mike Tate questioning how the governor could know nothing about what was happening on his watch.

“It’s just a little hard to believe that Scott Walker was totally unaware that his senior staff was breaking the law on a regular basis,” Tate said.

Walker’s campaign issued a statement saying he was confident that during the legal process, these emails were thoroughly reviewed by authorities.

Many of the emails released Wednesday were more personal than criminal. Rindfleisch attacked Rebecca Kleefisch, who would go on beat Brett Davis and become Walker’s lieutenant governor. “She makes me sick,” Rindfleisch wrote, “I just hate Becky.” Rindfleisch had choice words for the Democratic Party’s Tate, joking that she wanted someone to “make Mike Tate disappear.” Rindfleisch also minimized problems at the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex, saying “nobody cares about crazy people.”