MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democrats and their allies are pushing back against a Republican bill that would constrain so-called John Doe investigations. John Does are similar to grand jury probes in which information is gathered in secret. The bill would prohibit using John Does to investigate political wrongdoing, limit probes to six months — although a majority of the state’s chief judges could grant extensions — and allow witnesses to speak publicly. The bill’s authors, Republican Sen. Tom Tiffany and Rep. David Craig, told the Senate’s judiciary committee Wednesday that the bill would inject accountability and transparency into the process. Sen. Lena Taylor, a Milwaukee Democrat who serves on the committee, said the extension process looks too complicated. Former Milwaukee prosecutor E. Michael McCann told the committee the bill would gut the process.
