MADISON, Wis. -- Prosecutors in Dane County shifted their attention on Wednesday to a former aide to state Rep. Scott Jensen in the lawmaker's misconduct trial.

The prosecutors claim the former Republican leader hired Sherry Schultz solely to raise money for GOP candidates while she was on the state's payroll.

Schultz was a legislative aide for the no. 2 man in the Assembly, Steve Foti, but prosecutors have alleged that she did almost no state work. Instead, they argued that she was a full-time campaign fundraiser. Several aides that she worked with backed up that claim on Wednesday, WISC-TV reported.

Jensen and Schultz are both accused of misconduct in office. Jensen, R-Waukesha, is accused of using his Capitol staff and caucus workers for campaign purposes. He stepped down as Assembly speaker after he was charged with three felonies and one misdemeanor. Until now, prosecutors have focused on Jensen.

But, they called a former state worker who testified on Wednesday that Schultz acted as a clearinghouse for fundraising information with Republican campaigns, even though she was working on the state's payroll. She's charged with one felony.

Brian Dake said that he frequently did work as a field operative in several campaigns while on the state's payroll. He testified his responsibilities included overseeing fundraising and reporting donations back to Schultz.

Dake, who was granted immunity by prosecutors for his testimony, also testified about his current boss, Jensen. He said that Jensen wasn't a micro-manager, and "didn't want to know the details" -- referring generally to activity in the office, WISC-TV reported.

Dake, who was very nervous on the stand, came to his boss' defense under cross-examination.

"I believe he's a truthful and honest man," Dake said. "He means more to me than ... I don't think he'll ever know."

Other witness who took the stand on Thursday was caucus worker Tom Petri, who testified that he asked Schultz what might happen after the scandal broke in 2001.

"She said something to the effect of 'if I go down, I'm taking them all down with me,'" Petri said. "I assume that was a reference to leadership in the Assembly at that time."

Prosecutors must wrap up their case by Friday. The trial is expected to last another two weeks, and Jensen is expected to take the stand in his own defense, WISC-TV reported.

Jensen is the last of five lawmakers who were charged in 2002 after media reports detailed similar allegations.

The other four legislators -- ex-Democratic Sens. Brian Burke and Chuck Chvala and former Republican Reps. Steve Foti and Bonnie Ladwig -- have made plea deals with prosecutors to avoid trials.

Foti, once the second-ranking lawmaker in the Assembly, made an agreement and pleaded guilty to corruption charges last month. As part of the agreement, Foti agreed to testify against Jensen.

Burke and Chvala were sentenced to jail time. Former Assistant Assembly Majority Leader Ladwig is expected to pay $4,500 in fines and restitution, WISC-TV reported.

NOTE: WISC-TV's Colin Benedict provides behind-the-scenes coverage of the Jensen trial in his new blog.