GOP volunteer not charged for allegedly trying to sell secrets to Democrats
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Jermont Terry reports Video by tmj4.com
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WAUKESHA - A Waukesha man under investigation for trying to sell Republican secrets to Democrats via email will not face charges.
The Milwaukee County district attorney told TODAY'S TMJ4 it doesn't appear Erik Turner intended to extort the information.
That teen volunteered at the Waukesha Republican headquarters.
He claims it was a joke. "I was just screwing around with the people," said Erik Turner.
Erik Turner's met with the Milwaukee County district attorney comes after investigators raided his Waukesha home last week. They seized his laptop after court documents allege he tried to sell, via email, private information from the Republican Party of Wisconsin to Democrats.
Turner claims the email sent to Democratic Party spokesman Graeme Zielinski was a prank -- it was very specific.
It reads in part: "If you are willing to pay good amount of money, I am willing to give you the email and password...this could be used to your advantage if you knew what to do with it." Zielinski and the Democrats contacted the district attorney.
"Since I did not sell it or had intent to sell it, no (I shouldn't face charges," said Turner.
Court papers obtained by TODAY'S TMJ4 show the information Turner attempt to sell was real. "I had access because I was doing video for my friend who had access," said Turner.
While Turner remains a big Republican supporter, he's no longer volunteering for the campaign. He claims he did it on his own accord.
Ben Sparks with the Republican Party of Wisconsin released a statement saying: "The Republican Party of Wisconsin does not condone this type of behavior from anyone. As soon as this incident was brought to our attention, we reported it to proper authorities"
Zielinski had no comment on this ongoing criminal matter.
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