Wisconsin judge orders emails, other documents of former Walker aide released

The Wisconsin First District Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that previously sealed documents from the secret investigation and conviction of Kelly Rindfleisch, former aid of the state's governor, Scott Walker, will be made available to the public within 30 days, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Rindfleisch, who was convicted of misconduct in public office, had asked the court of Appeals in Milwaukee to keep the documents sealed. The court denied the motion, and, instead, unsealed the documents, except for documentation including social security numbers and medical information.

"Personal information collected in a criminal investigation is routinely included in criminal appellate records, although the investigation that led to the criminal charges against Rindfleisch generated widespread public interest, Rindfleisch is no different from any other person seeking appellate review of his or her criminal conviction.” Judge Patricia Curley wrote in response to the motion, according to the Journal Sentinel.

The soon-to-be-unsealed documents include emails and other records from the secret investigation of Rindfleisch for allegedly violating campaign laws when she worked on Walker's campaign. Rindfleisch was Walker's deputy chief of staff while he was Milwaukee County executive.

Eight different media outlets, including the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, asked the court to unseal the documents.

The ruling by Judge Curley came shortly after another Wisconsin appellate court unsealed other documents involving separate investigations regarding campaign fundraising and spending in a matter related to Walker’s 2012 recall election.

Rindfleisch may ultimately decide to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court.