Memo to Reporters: “Bombshell” Email Exchange With Top Adviser John Hiller Suggests Scott Walker is at the Heart of Criminal Corruption Probe
To: Interested Reporters
Date: Tuesday, May 29, 2012
From: Melissa Baldauff, WisDems Research Director
Re: Memo to Reporters: “Bombshell” Email Exchange With Top Adviser John HillerSuggests Scott Walker is at the Heart of Criminal Corruption Probe
A breaking investigative report from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel suggests that Scott Walker is at the heart of the John Doe criminal corruption probe that has charged six Walker associates with 15 felonies.
The report discusses an email exchange between Walker and longtime adviser, John Hiller, over a County contract that is under investigation for potential bid-rigging.
Hiller, a realtor, longtime Republican operative and campaign advisor, served as Walker’s campaign treasurer from 1993 until his abrupt resignation in May 2011, just weeks after Walker’s spokesman, Cullen Werwie, was granted immunity in the John Doe criminal corruption probe. Hiller is the former Chair of the Milwaukee County Republican Party, was a volunteer member of President George W. Bush’s Advance Staff, and served on the state steering committee for Bush in 2004.
Hiller also served as Walker’s transition team director in 2010.
In nearly two decades by Walker’s side, John Hiller has been involved in more than just one illegal or unethical scheme on Walker’s behalf.
Real Estate Connections and Questionable Real Estate Deals
The John Doe appears to be looking into the bidding process for moving the County’s Department of Aging into private facilities. Hiller worked for building owners that were at the center of the bidding in both 2005 and 2010, and Villa’s Markesan Group lobbied on real estate deals. Some suggest that in this area the John Doe is looking for bid-rigging and other possible corruption.
Particularly, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on January 25, 2012 outlines a bid competition to house the county’s Department on Aging in private office space. John Hiller lobbied on behalf of the brokers at the Boerke Company, including information on which county supervisors to approach to prompt a re-bidding of the deal.
As reported by the Journal Sentinel:
“Hiller, himself a real estate broker and developer, said he "probably" pointed the Reuss owners to the county opportunity, and discussed the situation with Dennik. Hiller told the newspaper in 2005 he was hired by the Reuss owners to develop strategies to fill empty offices there.
Hiller at the time downplayed his own role, but said he advised Boerke Co. on which county supervisors to approach to prompt a re-bidding of the deal. Hiller said he called Rice, another of Walker’s close allies, to urge him to talk to Boerke Co. about doing a "best and final offer" round.
Records show Jensen wrote a letter to key supervisors, including Rice, who later made the motion to reopen the bidding, citing potential savings.
Meanwhile, the Markesan Group – a lobbying firm set up by former Walker chief of staff Jim Villa – lobbied on the 2005 deal, according to Dennik. It couldn’t be determined