Thursday, July 18, 2024
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Thursday, July 18, 2024

Milwaukee Press Club 'Excellence in Wisconsin Journalism' 2020 & 2021 Award Winners

Wisconsin District Attorneys Are Turning Their Backs on AG Josh Kaul

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It’s very unusual that law enforcement leaders and DAs have so firmly turned their back on the man who holds the position known as the state’s “top cop.”

Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul has only been able to get 5 of the state’s 71 Wisconsin district attorneys to support his campaign, laughably calling it a bipartisan “coalition.”

His Republican opponent, Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney, the president of the Wisconsin District Attorneys Association, has the support of 30 district attorneys, 28 who are sitting DAs and two who are retired.

Furthermore, Kaul has announced zero law enforcement endorsements from police chiefs and police associations, and he has only three sheriffs backing him, whereas Toney has a long list.

Kaul’s bizarre attempt to turn a measly 5 DAs into a “coalition” is reminiscent of the wording used by Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mandela Barnes, who initially announced a grand total of 9 law enforcement endorsements before 2 fell off the list (one said he didn’t actually endorse him).

But it’s especially shocking that law enforcement and DAs have so firmly turned their back on the man who holds the position considered by many to be the state’s “top cop.”

Toney is endorsed by over 100 Sheriffs, District Attorneys, and Police Chiefs, and has been unanimously endorsed by the Wisconsin Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge, Milwaukee Police Association, Milwaukee Police Supervisors Organization, and the Kenosha Professional Police Association.

“I’m honored and excited to endorse Eric Toney for attorney general,” Racine County DA Patricia Hanson said. “He’s a proven, tough-on-crime prosecutor who’ll work with local law enforcement to clean up the mess Josh Kaul has made at the Department of Justice.  Crime in Wisconsin is surging, and we do not have time for on-the-job training.  He’s the only candidate who has managed a team of prosecutors and utilized the resources of the DOJ to keep our communities safe. Eric Toney will make an excellent ‘top cop’ for Wisconsin.”

Kaul’s 5 Wisconsin District Attorney endorsements are Buffalo County DA Tom Bilski. Jefferson County District Attorney Monica Hall, Wood County DA Craig Lambert, Kenosha County DA Michael Graveley, and La Crosse County DA Tim Gruenke.


Eric Toney’s Wisconsin District Attorney Endorsements are:

  • Brown County County DA David Lasee
  • Calumet County DA Nathan Haberman
  • Clark County DA Melissa Inlow
  • Chippewa County DA Wade Newall
  • Dodge County DA District Kurt Klomberg
  • Douglas County DA Mark Fruehauf
  • Green County DA Craig Nolan
  • Iron County DA Matthew Tingstad
  • Juneau County DA Kenneth Hamm
  • Lafayette County DA Jenna Gill
  • Langlade County DA Elizabeth Gebert
  • Lincoln County DA Galen Bayne-Allison
  • Manitowoc County DA Jacalyn LaBre
  • Marinette County DA DeShea Morrow
  • Monroe County DA Kevin Croninger
  • Outagamie County DA Melinda Tempelis
  • Oconto County DA Edward Burke
  • Ozaukee County DA Attorney Adam Gerol
  • Polk County DA Jeff Kemp
  • Richland County DA Jennifer Harper
  • Racine County DA Patricia Hanson
  • Shawano County DA Greg Parker
  • Sheboygan County DA Joel Urmanski
  • St. Croix DA Karl Anderson
  • Washington County DA District Mark Benson
  • Waukesha County DA Susan Opper
  • Waupaca County DA Veronica Isherwood
  • Winnebago County DA Eric Sparr
  • Winnebago County DA Christian Gossett*
  • Fond du Lac County DA Tom Storm*

Organizations Endorsing Eric Toney

Wisconsin Fraternal Order of Police

Milwaukee Police Association

Racine Police Association

Racine County Deputy Sheriff Association

Milwaukee Police Supervisors Organization

Kenosha Professional Police Association

West Allis Professional Police Association


Sheriffs Endorsing Eric Toney

Adams County Sheriff Brent York
Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald
Bayfield County Sheriff Paul Susienka
Brown County Sheriff Todd Delain
Buffalo County Sheriff Michael Schmidtknecht
Burnett County Sheriff Tracy Finch
Calumet County Sheriff Mark Wiegert
Clark County Sheriff Scott Haines
Crawford County Sheriff Dale McCullick
Columbia County Sheriff Roger Brandner
Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt
Dunn County Sheriff Kevin Bygd
Eau Claire County Sheriff Ronald Cramer
Florence County Sheriff Dan Miller
Fond du Lac County Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt
Grant County Sheriff Nate Dreckman
Green Lake Sheriff Mark Podoll
Iron County Sheriff Paul Samardich
Jefferson County Sheriff Paul Milbrath
Juneau County Sheriff Brett Oleson
Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth
Kewaunee County Sheriff Matthew Joski
La Crosse County Sheriff Jeff Wolf
Lafayette County Sheriff Reg Gill
Langlade County Sheriff Mark Westen
Lincoln County Sheriff Ken Schneider
Manitowoc County Sheriff Dan Hartwig
Marathon County Sheriff Scott Parks
Marinette County Sheriff Jerry Sauve
Marquette County Sheriff Joe Konrath
Menominee County Sheriff Rebecca Smith
Monroe County Sheriff Wesley Revels
Oconto County Sheriff Todd Skarban
Oneida County Sheriff Grady Hartman
Ozaukee County Sheriff Jim Johnson
Pepin County Sheriff Joel Wener
Pierce County Sheriff Nancy Hove
Polk County Sheriff Brent Waak
Price County Sheriff Brian Schmidt
Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling
Rusk County Sheriff Jeff Wallace
Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister
Sawyer County Sheriff Doug Mrotek
Shawano County Sheriff Adam Bieber
Sheboygan County Sheriff Corey Roesler
St. Croix County Sheriff Scott Knudson
Taylor County Sheriff Larry Woebbeking
Trempealeau County Sheriff Brett Semingson
Walworth County Sheriff Kurt Picknell
Waupaca County Sheriff Tim Wilz
Washburn County Sheriff Dennis Stuart
Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis
Waukesha County Sheriff Eric Severson
Waushara County Sheriff Walter Zuehlke
Winnebago County Sheriff John Matz
Wood County Sheriff Shawn Becker
Vernon County Sheriff John Spears
Vilas County Sheriff Joseph Fath
Sheriff Mylan Fink*
Sheriff Gary Pucker*
Sheriff Jim Gilmore*
Sheriff David Graves*
Sheriff Gary Hamblin


Police Chiefs Endorsing Toney

Greg Dieke
David Beal
Renee Schuster
Sean Marschke (former President: Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association)
Scout Louden
Thomas Bishop
Thomas Dornbrook
William Wallner
Gary Durkee
Gary Rose
Aaron Goldstein
Paul Mott
Nate Klapoetke
Bryan Frank
Kevin Fenske
Russ Monacelli*
Kevin Verdine*
Dale Heeringa*
Dave Lukoski*
Tony Barthuly*
William Lamb*
Mike Koval*

See the rest of Toney’s law enforcement endorsements here.

We’d link to the rest of Kaul’s, but he doesn’t have many.

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Lara Trump: ‘Frightening’ Assassination Attempt a ‘Defining Moment’ for Country

Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee and daughter-in-law of former President Donald Trump, appeared saddened but proud when recalling the "frightening" assassination attempt Saturday against her father-in-law at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa.

“There is no doubt that Saturday was one of the most frightening moments of my father-in-law’s life,” Lara Trump told the audience at Tuesday night's Republican National Convention. “Millimeters separated him from life and certain death. And yet, it was in the midst of it all, as he was jostled off stage by Secret Service, that he knew how defining that moment would be for our country, and he hoisted his fist in the air.”

The crowd erupted into chants of “fight, fight, fight!”

The assassination attempt on Trump, and a general belief among Republicans that a win for their candidate in November will refortify national security, dominated the topics discussed during the later portion of the Republican National Convention’s second night, themed “Make America Safe Again,” in Milwaukee, Wis.

Lara Trump, who is married to the GOP presidential nominee's son, Eric Trump, wrapped up convention night Tuesday as the keynote speaker.

“Last Saturday was a jarring reminder that we as Americans must always remember: there is more that unites us than divides us,” she said. “We all want this country to be great, even if we don't always agree on the best way of doing that. And with every bone in my body, I can tell you that all Donald Trump wants to do, and has ever wanted to do, is make this country great again for all of us.”

She referenced Trump’s presidential record of tax cuts, energy independence, unemployment rates, prison reform, border security, peace agreements in the Middle East, and the creation of the U.S. Space Force as proof that a second Trump administration would benefit American peace and prosperity.

Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who was on the shortlist for Trump’s vice-presidential candidate picks, spoke just before Lara Trump Tuesday night, and argued there is nothing divisive about Trump’s America-first agenda, and nothing dangerous about Trump’s supporters, as Democrats maintain.

“What they ask for is not hateful or extreme,” Rubio said of Trump's supporters. “What they want is good jobs and lower prices. They want borders that are secure, and for those who come here to do so legally. They want to be safe from criminals and from terrorists. And they want our leaders to care more about our problems here at home than about the problems of other countries far away.”

Dr. Ben Carson, the 17th U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under the Trump administration, talked briefly as well, noting how the assassination attempt put the stakes of the election into perspective.

“These events brought unusual clarity to the times we are living in. We have all harbored the nagging feeling that everything we love is slipping away,” said Carson. “This is a man who is a gift to us as a nation.”

The night concluded with speakers calling for unity, for votes, and for grit.

“We must stand up, and we must fight,” Rubio said. “Fight not with violence or destruction, but with our voices and our votes. Fight not against each other, but for the hopes and dreams we share in common and make us one. And fight for an America where we are safe from those who seek to harm us on our streets, and from abroad.”

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Secret Service Says Sloped Roof Was Unsafe for Snipers

The sloped roof where a would-be assassin took aim at former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in western Pennsylvania wasn’t safe enough for snipers.

This is a reason for not posting someone there, U.S. Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle said in an interview with ABC News on Tuesday.

“That building, in particular, has a sloped roof at its highest point,” she said. “And so, you know, there’s a safety factor that would be considered there that we wouldn’t want to put somebody up on a sloped roof.”

“And so, you know, the decision was made to secure the building, from inside,” Cheatle added.

The comment comes three days after 20-year-old Thomas Crooks opened fire on a crowd in Butler, Pa., less than 15 minutes after Trump took the stage, striking him in the ear. Trump was wounded but has continued his schedule, arriving in Milwaukee, Wis., on Sunday for the Republican National Convention and appearing in the main arena Monday night.

Since then, authorities – namely the Secret Service – have faced tough questions about the apparent security lapses that allowed the gunman to scale the roof 147 yards from the stage at the Butler Farm Show Grounds.

Eyewitnesses can be seen on video shouting for police to intervene as they watched Crooks belly crawl into position. Law enforcement was also stationed inside the building.

In a separate report from NBC News, a local official said a Butler Township police officer was boosted to the roof of the building, where he grabbed onto a ledge and saw Crooks, who then turned his rifle toward the officer. Unable to grab his weapon or radio, the officer dropped eight feet to the ground, injuring his ankle.

Citizen Vote Protection Act Fentanyl Overdose Link derrick van orden

Arrest Made After Derrick Van Orden Says He Was Assaulted at RNC

(The Center Square) – Western Wisconsin’s congressman says he was assaulted at Milwaukee’s Republican National Convention, but a women’s group disagrees.

Republican Congressman Derrick Van Orden took social media Tuesday to say a protester with the group Code Pink assaulted him while he was standing in line at the RNC.

“While standing in line to enter an event at the RNC today, I was assaulted by what appeared to be a member of the pro-Hamas group CODEPINK. A nearby police officer witnessed this assault and I understand they have been arrested,” Van Orden said. “This appears to be an incident of political violence and I will never tolerate this. Regardless of the severity of the violence, political violence is political violence.”

Code Pink almost immediately said Van Orden was the one who bumped into who they called a “visibly Palestinian” woman.

“CODEPINK's Palestine Organizer Nour [Jaghama] has been unjustly arrested at the RNC after a congressman shoved past her and had her arrested on false charges of ‘assault,’” Code Pink said in a tweet of its own.

Milwaukee Police questioned Jaghama, then were later seen taking her away.

The department says the incident is “under investigation.”

Van Orden said the incident is just the latest example of violence from the Left.

“Republicans have been intimidated and targeted for years, including the attempted assassination of President Trump and we will no longer standby and allow lawlessness,” he said. “There is no place for political violence in this country and I have repeatedly called for people who choose this path to be prosecuted to the greatest extent of the law.”

The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday that charges in the case are “under review.”

Van Orden was in line for an event at the Pfister Hotel at the time. It’s not clear if the Code Pink protester was going to the same event or was just standing in line.

Van Orden has been a target for protesters. He is in the middle of a race for his second term in Congress for Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District. He has a history of confrontations. It was July of last year when Van Orden was accused of yelling at a group of Capitol Hill interns who were taking pictures and videos inside the Capitol Rotunda.

He defended his actions by saying the Capitol Dome is hallowed-ground, and needs to be treated with respect.

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