Wisconsin Right Now

Racine County District Attorney Patricia Hanson is declining to file criminal charges against five members of the Wisconsin Election Commission, but that's only because she says she lacks jurisdiction. They don't live in Racine County. However, she blasted the Election Commissioners, saying they exceeded their authority under the law, writing, "I have spent considerable time reviewing this case and what occurred in Racine County. It is appalling to me that an appointed, unelected group of volunteers, has enough authority to change how some of our most vulnerable citizens access voting." Patricia Hanson concluded: "I am of the opinion that the WEC exceeded any authority granted to it by the legislature. Additionally, the internal checks and balances of municipal clerks making lists of residents from each facility who had actually requested absentee ballots for the SVDs to verify, was eliminated." Because she is declining to file charges based on jurisdict...

Racine County District Attorney Patricia Hanson is declining to file criminal charges against five members of the Wisconsin Election Commission, but that's only because she says she lacks jurisdiction. They don't live in Racine County. However, she blasted the Election Commissioners, saying they exceeded their authority under the law, writing, "I have spent considerable time reviewing this case and what occurred in Racine County. It is appalling to me that an appointed, unelected group of volunteers, has enough authority to change how some of our most vulnerable citizens access voting." Patricia Hanson concluded: "I am of the opinion that the WEC exceeded any authority granted to it by the legislature. Additionally, the internal checks and balances of municipal clerks making lists of residents from each facility who had actually requested absentee ballots for the SVDs to verify, was eliminated." Because she is declining to file charges based on jurisdict...

Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling, citing the "failure" of Attorney General Josh Kaul to investigate, is recommending that the Racine County District Attorney file felony criminal charges against five members of the state of Wisconsin Election Commission. "Based upon multiple questions from various news organizations concerning the status of the Voter Integrity investigation that was explained in a news conference on October 28, 2021, the Sheriff’s Office is again calling on Attorney General Josh Kaul to conduct a statewide investigation into the illegal directives issued by the Wisconsin Election Commission," Schmaling said in a news release on Nov. 3, 2021. Democrat Kaul responded by trashing Schmaling, accusing him of "a disgraceful publicity stunt" and "an abuse of authority." However, the sheriff says he initiated the investigation at the request of the DA after the daughter of an elderly woman came forward to raise concerns ab...

Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling, citing the "failure" of Attorney General Josh Kaul to investigate, is recommending that the Racine County District Attorney file felony criminal charges against five members of the state of Wisconsin Election Commission. "Based upon multiple questions from various news organizations concerning the status of the Voter Integrity investigation that was explained in a news conference on October 28, 2021, the Sheriff’s Office is again calling on Attorney General Josh Kaul to conduct a statewide investigation into the illegal directives issued by the Wisconsin Election Commission," Schmaling said in a news release on Nov. 3, 2021. Democrat Kaul responded by trashing Schmaling, accusing him of "a disgraceful publicity stunt" and "an abuse of authority." However, the sheriff says he initiated the investigation at the request of the DA after the daughter of an elderly woman came forward to raise concerns ab...

The Sheriff's Department asked the Racine Journal-Times, "Is it that your reporters are unintelligent, biased, partisan . . . or a dangerous combination of the mix?" The Racine County Sheriff's Department is accusing the Racine Journal Times of making false statements and engaging in "unethical conduct." The controversy emerged about reporting into the Department's enforcement of a federal eviction moratorium. In a lengthy smack-down posted to Facebook, the Sheriff's Department wrote: "In no way shape or form did the Sheriff's Office take any of the positions described by Racine Journal Times employee Scott Williams (as thoroughly explained below). The Sheriff's Office reasserts their previous question to the Racine Journal Times that it directed at Adam Rogan - Is it that your reporters are unintelligent, biased, partisan . . . or a dangerous combination of the mix?" ( Rogan is a local editor at the newspaper). The sta...