In February 2011 Murphy prank-called newly elected Wisconsin governor Scott Walker posing as David H. Koch, a wealthy Walker campaign contributor and funder of anti-union efforts in Wisconsin and other states. During the secretly recorded call, Walker discussed possible plans to trick absent Democratic lawmakers back to Wisconsin to obtain a quorum for the passage of the controversial anti-union legislation. Murphy posted the recording on "The Beast", obtaining national attention, a cult hero's welcome at the Wisconsin protests and an appearance on MSNBC. The governor's office confirmed that the call occurred. Koch later told the conservative "Weekly Standard" he considered the prank call and posting of the secret recording comparable to identity theft.