Democrats file ethics complaint against governor

Gov. Scott Walker speaks at the state Capitol in Madison on Feb. 1. Democrats on Monday filed an ethics complaint against the governor. (AP File Photo/Andy Manis)

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 said he hasn’t examined allegations of campaign finance violations.