One of the former Wisconsin Supreme Court justices tapped to investigate impeaching newly elected Justice Janet Protasiewicz for taking Democratic Party money accepted donations from the state Republican Party when he was on the court.
kAm%96 7@C>6C ;FDE:46[ #6AF3=:42? s2G:5 !C@DD6C[ 82G6 Sd__ E@ E96 4@?D6CG2E:G6 42?5:52E6 H9@ =@DE E@ !C@E2D:6H:4K[ 5:5 ?@E C64FD6 9:>D6=7 7C@> 42D6D :?G@=G:?8 2 =2H 96 96=A65 A2DD 2D 2 =2H>2<6C 2?5 H2D :?G6DE:82E65 27E6C 2 A9JD:42= 2=E6C42E:@? H:E9 2 =:36C2= ;FDE:46]k^Am
kAm!C@DD6C :D @?6 @7 E9C66 7@C>6C ;FDE:46D E2AA65 3J E96 #6AF3=:42? pDD6>3=J DA62<6C E@ :?G6DE:82E6 E96 4C:E6C:2 7@C E2<:?8 E96 F?AC64656?E65 DE6A @7 :>A6249:?8 2 4FCC6?E ;FDE:46] $A62<6C #@3:? '@D 92D 7=@2E65 :>A6249>6?E 3642FD6 !C@E2D:6H:4K 2446AE65 ?62C=J S`_ >:==:@? 7C@> E96 (:D4@?D:? s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ 2?5 D2:5 5FC:?8 E96 42>A2:8? E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^H:D4@?D:?\DFAC6>6\4@FCE\:>A6249>6?E\C6AF3=:42?D\86CCJ>2?56C:?8\=68:D=2EFC6\a`74g4b47hheab2bfh437c55_`65_3g4Qm962G:=J 86CCJ>2?56C65 v~!\5C2H? =68:D=2E:G6 6=64E@C2= >2ADk^2m H6C6 “F?72:C” 2?5 “C:8865]”k^Am
kAm%96 :>A6249>6?E E9C62E 4@>6D 27E6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^H:D4@?D:?\DFAC6>6\4@FCE\6=64E:@?\23@CE:@?\_5`gg3d4e7gc`dce7hgcbe4`23g`g_72Qm!C@E2D:6H:4K’D H:? E9:D DAC:?8k^2m 92?565 =:36C2=D 2 >2;@C:EJ @? E96 4@FCE 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 :? `d J62CD[ H9:49 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^H:D4@?D:?\DFAC6>6\4@FCE\23@CE:@?\C65:DEC:4E:?8\ghh_f3b227_g`c2cbc56cff6a2cd5h33Qm3@=DE6C65 s6>@4C2E:4 9@A6Dk^2m :E H@F=5 E9C@H @FE E96 #6AF3=:42? >2AD[ =682=:K6 23@CE:@? 2?5 49:A 2H2J 2E #6AF3=:42? =2HD 6?24E65 5FC:?8 E96 A2DE 564256\A=FD]k^Am
kAmxE 2=D@ 4@>6D 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6 E92E pDD6>3=J #6AF3=:42?D A2DD65 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^H:D4@?D:?\C65:DEC:4E:?8\b27deeg7dd5_ae724bfabdc4acg_gh35QmDH66A:?8 C65:DEC:4E:?8 C67@C> 3:==k^2m '@D 56D4C:365 2D 2? “@77 C2>A” 7C@> :>A6249>6?E 2?5 $6?2E6 #6AF3=:42?D G@E65 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^H:D4@?D:?\D6?2E6\>6282?\H@=76\6=64E:@?D\7:C:?8\ea2_64ededb_4fc_hbc3_b_gb3b6b3``Qm7:C6 E96 DE2E6’D ?@?A2CE:D2? 6=64E:@?D 5:C64E@Ck^2m] q@E9 >@G6D E2<6 @? 96:89E6?65 :>A@CE2?46 :? (:D4@?D:?[ @?6 @7 2 92?57F= @7 DH:?8 DE2E6D H96C6 7@FC @7 E96 A2DE D:I AC6D:56?E:2= 6=64E:@?D 92G6 366? 564:565 3J =6DD E92? 2 A@:?E]k^Am
kAm'@D H@?’E D2J H9@ 96’D 49@D6? 7@C E96 D64C6E[ E9C66\;F586 :>A6249>6?E C6G:6H A2?6=[ 3FE !C@DD6C 4@?7:C>65 E@ %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD E92E '@D 2D<65 9:> E@ A2CE:4:A2E6] }@?6 @7 E96 @E96C 6:89E =:G:?8 7@C>6C ;FDE:46D[ D:I @7 H9@> 2C6 4@?D6CG2E:G6D[ 92G6 E@=5 E96 p! E96J 92G6 366? A:4<65] yFDE:46D 2C6 @77:4:2==J ?@?A2CE:D2? :? (:D4@?D:?[ 3FE :? C646?E J62CD E96 A@=:E:42= A2CE:6D 92G6 324<65 46CE2:? 42?5:52E6D] ~E96CD[ =:<6 !C@DD6C[ 7@C>6C=J D6CG65 :? A2CE:D2? A@D:E:@?D]k^Am
kAmp 7@C>6C =:36C2= ;FDE:46[ {@F:D qFE=6C[ D2:5 96 H2D ?@E 2D<65] u@FC 7@C>6C 4@?D6CG2E:G6 ;FDE:46D — y@? (:=4@I[ s2? z6==J[ fE9 &]$] r:C4F:E r@FCE r9:67 yF586 s:2?6 $J<6D 2?5 {@F:D r64: — E@=5 E96 p! E96J H6C6 ?@E 2D<65]k^Am
kAmr64:[ he[ :D E96 @=56DE =:G:?8 7@C>6C ;FDE:46] w6 D6CG65 @? E96 4@FCE 7C@> `hga E@ `hhb 2?5 D6CG65 @?6 E6C> 2D 2 #6AF3=:42? :? E96 DE2E6 pDD6>3=J :? E96 `he_D]k^Am
kAmr64:[ :?E6CG:6H65 2E 9:D DF3FC32? |:=H2F<66 9@>6 :? 2 C6E:C6>6?E 9:89\C:D6[ D2:5 96 5@6D?’E <?@H 2?JE9:?8 23@FE E96 :>A6249>6?E E9C62ED !C@E2D:6H:4K 7246D 36J@?5 H92E 96 C625D :? ?6HDA2A6CD] '@D 92D ?@E 2AAC@24965 9:> 23@FE D6CG:?8 @? E96 A2?6=[ 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmp D6G6?E9 7@C>6C ;FDE:46[ y2?:?6 v6D<6[ E@=5 E96 (:D4@?D:? $E2E6 y@FC?2= D96 H2D ?@E 2D<65] '@D D2:5 7@C>6C yFDE:46 |:4926= v23=6>2?[ H9@> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^a_aa\>:5E6C>\6=64E:@?D\H:D4@?D:?\5@?2=5\ECF>A\4g`6`g_e34c`23c6g764h`3g7fa66h_cQm'@D 7:C65k^2m 7C@> =625:?8 2? :?G6DE:82E:@? :?E@ E96 a_a_ 6=64E:@?[ H2D ?@E @? :E]k^Am
kAm%96 >@DE C646?E=J C6E:C65 ;FDE:46[ 4@?D6CG2E:G6 !2E:6?46 #@886?D24<[ 564=:?65 E@ 4@>>6?E E@ E96 p!]k^Am
kAm“x 42?’E E2=< E@ J@F C:89E ?@H[” D96 D2:5 %9FCD52J[ 255:?8 E92E D96 H2D @? 96C H2J E@ 2 4@==686 4=2DD 367@C6 92?8:?8 FA]k^Am
Prosser
JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES
k9bm!C@DD6C’D C64@C5k^9bm
kAm#@886?D24< 2?5 !C@DD6C G@E65 E@ 6?24E 2 CF=6 2==@H:?8 ;FDE:46D E@ D:E @? 42D6D :?G@=G:?8 42>A2:8? 5@?@CD] x? a_`f[ 2 J62C 27E6C !C@DD6C =67E E96 4@FCE[ #@886?D24< G@E65 E@ C6;64E 2 42== 7C@> dc C6E:C65 ;FDE:46D 2?5 ;F586D E@ 6?24E DEC:4E6C C64FD2= CF=6D]k^Am
kAm#@886?D24<[ :? a_a_[ D:565 H:E9 E96 4@?D6CG2E:G6 >:?@C:EJ :? 2 CF=:?8 E92E 76== @?6 G@E6 D9@CE @7 @G6CEFC?:?8 !C6D:56?E y@6 q:56?’D G:4E@CJ :? E96 DE2E6] p?5 D96 6?5@CD65 s2? z6==J[ E96 4@?D6CG2E:G6 @AA@?6?E E@ !C@E2D:6H:4K :? E9:D J62C’D 6=64E:@?] !C@DD6C 5@?2E65 Sd__ E@ z6==J[ H9@ C6A=2465 !C@DD6C @? E96 4@FCE 27E6C 96 C6E:C65]k^Am
kAm!C@DD6C D6CG65 @? E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE 7C@> `hhg E@ a_`e 2?5 2=D@ DA6?E `g J62CD 367@C6 E92E 2D 2 #6AF3=:42? >6>36C @7 E96 pDD6>3=J — EH@ J62CD 2D DA62<6C]k^Am
kAm%96C6 H6C6 ?F>6C@FD E:>6D 5FC:?8 !C@DD6C’D J62CD @? E96 4@FCE H96? 96 5:5 ?@E C64FD6 9:>D6=7 7C@> 42D6D :?G@=G:?8 :DDF6D 96 925 G@E65 @? 2D 2 >6>36C @7 E96 {68:D=2EFC6]k^Am
kAm!C@DD6C 5:5 C64FD6 9:>D6=7 7C@> 42D6D :?G@=G:?8 E96 4@?DE:EFE:@?2=:EJ @7 2 42A @? >65:42= >2=AC24E:46 52>286D 3642FD6 96 H2D DA62<6C @7 E96 pDD6>3=J H96? E96 42A H2D :?DE:EFE65] qFE :? a__c 96 492?865 4@FCD6 2?5 2FE9@C65 E96 >2;@C:EJ @A:?:@? FA9@=5:?8 E96 =2H 96 96=A65 A2DD] w6 5:DD6?E65 7C@> 2 a__d $FAC6>6 r@FCE CF=:?8 @G6CEFC?:?8 E96 =2H]k^Am
kAm!C@DD6C 2=D@ C67FD65 2 C6BF6DE E@ C64FD6 :? a_`d 7C@> 4@?D:56C:?8 E9C66 42D6D C6=2E65 E@ 2? :?G6DE:82E:@? :?E@ E96?\v@G] $4@EE (2=<6C 2?5 4@?D6CG2E:G6 8C@FAD E92E DFAA@CE65 9:>] %96 8C@FAD :? BF6DE:@? 925 DA6?E Sb]b >:==:@? E@ 96=A 6=64E !C@DD6C :? a_``]k^Am
kAmw6 5676?565 962C:?8 E96 42D6D[ D2J:?8 E92E 3642FD6 E96 >@?6J H2D DA6?E 7@FC J62CD 62C=:6C[ 6?@F89 E:>6 925 A2DD65 E@ >2<6 E96> :CC6=6G2?E]k^Am
kAm!C@DD6C E96? G@E65 H:E9 E96 >2;@C:EJ E@ D9FE 5@H? E96 :?G6DE:82E:@?]k^Am
kAm!C@DD6C H2D 2=D@ 6>3C@:=65 :? @?6 E96 4@FCE’D >@DE 4@?E6?E:@FD A6C:@5D :? a_``[ 244FD65 3J 2 =:36C2= ;FDE:46 @7 2EE6>AE:?8 E@ 49@<6 96C] x>A6249>6?E H2D ?6G6C C2:D65 2D 2 A@DD:3:=:EJ[ 6G6? E9@F89 A@=:46 :?G6DE:82E65 3FE ?@ 492C86D H6C6 7:=65] %96 (:D4@?D:? yF5:4:2= r@>>:DD:@? C64@>>6?565 E96 4@FCE 5:D4:A=:?6 9:> 3FE ?@E9:?8 92AA6?65 3642FD6 E96 4@FCE =24<65 2 BF@CF> H96? E9C66 ;FDE:46D C64FD65]k^Am
kAmx? a_`e[ !C@DD6C C646:G65 Sad[___ @7 :?\<:?5 4@?EC:3FE:@?D 7C@> E96 (:D4@?D:? #6AF3=:42? !2CEJ] {6DD E92? E9C66 H66<D =2E6C 96 C6D:8?65 H:E9 ?62C=J E9C66 J62CD =67E @? 9:D E6C>]k^Am
kAm'@D D2:5 !C@DD6C’D A2DE H@F=5?’E 27764E 9:D 23:=:EJ E@ 72:C=J @776C 25G:46 @? 9@H E@ AC@4665]k^Am
kAm“u:CDE @7 2==[ 2== 96 :D 5@:?8 :D 8:G:?8 25G:46 @? H96E96C @C ?@E D@>6@?6 @F89E E@ C64FD6 2?5 E96 4C:E6C:2 7@C :>A6249>6?E[” '@D D2:5] “%92E 92D ?@E9:?8 E@ 5@ H:E9 H92E 92AA6?65 367@C6 H96? 96 H2D @? E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE]”k^Am
kAm!C@DD6C D2:5 E96 492C86 8:G6? E@ 9:> 3J '@D H2D :?G6DE:82E:?8 “H96E96C E96C6’D 2 =68:E:>2E6 C62D@? 7@C :>A6249:?8” !C@E2D:6H:4K]k^Am
kAm(96? 2D<65 H96E96C 96 E9:?<D E96 A2?6= D9@F=5 :?4=F56 =:36C2=D[ !C@DD6C D2:5[ “x’> C62==J ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 2?DH6C E92E BF6DE:@?]”k^Am
kAm“x C62==J 5@?’E <?@H H92E E96 AC@46DD :D 8@:?8 E@ 36[ H9@’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 5@:?8 E96 HC:E:?8[” !C@DD6C D2:5] “x ;FDE C62==J 5@?’E <?@H]”k^Am
k9bm‘%9:D :D 2 492C256’k^9bm
kAm}@ >2EE6C H9@ :D @? E96 :>A6249>6?E C6G:6H A2?6=[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^H:D4@?D:?\DFAC6>6\4@FCE\:>A6249>6?E\23@CE:@?\C65:DEC:4E:?8\3262g`aa`4424bcb_3hh5hd53c4dc2chQms6>@4C2ED D2Jk^2m E96 AC@46DD :D 2 ;@<6]k^Am
kAm“%96 6?E:C6 4@?46AE @7 92G:?8 2 D64C6E A2?6= 56=:36C2E:?8 :? D64C6E E@ 25G:D6 2? pDD6>3=J DA62<6C @? 2? F?4@?DE:EFE:@?2= :>A6249>6?E @? 2 ;FDE:46 H9@ 92D J6E E@ CF=6 @? 2 42D6 :D 2 72C46[” D2:5 (:D4@?D:? s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ r92:C q6? (:<=6C] “%9:D :D 2 492C256]”k^Am
kAm'@D D2:5 :>A6249>6?E >2J 36 H2CC2?E65 :7 !C@E2D:6H:4K 5@6D?’E DE6A 5@H? 7C@> 962C:?8 EH@ s6>@4C2E:4\324<65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^H:D4@?D:?\C65:DEC:4E:?8\C6AF3=:42?D\56>@4C2ED\_cc75_ae3g4256`3565g6bf2`4c_7752QmC65:DEC:4E:?8 =2HDF:EDk^2m D66<:?8 E@ F?5@ #6AF3=:42?\5C2H? =68:D=2E:G6 >2AD]k^Am
kAm'@D 2C8F6D E92E !C@E2D:6H:4K 92D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^H:D4@?D:?\DFAC6>6\4@FCE\;FDE:46\:>A6249>6?E\h3agbgb5b_bf`4g4`_h3ecc7h3h2g5faQmAC6;F5865 E96 42D6Dk^2m] $96 ?6G6C D2:5 9@H D96 H@F=5 CF=6 @? 2?J =2HDF:E]k^Am
kAm&?56C E96 (:D4@?D:? r@?DE:EFE:@?[ :>A6249>6?E :D C6D6CG65 7@C “4@CCFAE 4@?5F4E :? @77:46 @C 7@C E96 4@>>:DD:@? @7 2 4C:>6 @C >:D56>62?@C]”k^Am
kAmxE :D FA E@ 6249 ;FDE:46 E@ 564:56 H96E96C C64FD2= :? 2 42D6 :D H2CC2?E65[ 2?5 E96 4@?D6CG2E:G6 >2;@C:EJ @7 E96 4@FCE 25@AE65 2 CF=6 D2J:?8 E92E ;FDE:46D 5@?’E 92G6 E@ C64FD6 :7 E96J 2446AE65 >@?6J 7C@> A2CE:6D 2C8F:?8 2 42D6] ~E96C 4FCC6?E ;FDE:46D 92G6 2=D@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^H:D4@?D:?\DFAC6>6\4@FCE\=:36C2=\;FDE:46\:>A6249>6?E\6=64E:@?\_2ehhafd7d52cd`gh55dd_bcehdhc526Qm366? @FEDA@<6?k^2m @? 9@E\3FEE@? :DDF6D 367@C6 E96J ;@:?65 E96 4@FCE 2?5 2== 3FE @?6 92G6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^H:D4@?D:?\DFAC6>6\4@FCE\;FDE:46\:>A6249>6?E\23@CE:@?\7`5`575cfebad2__6h3hh5cfbd3c3d66QmE2<6? >@?6Jk^2m 7C@> A@=:E:42= A2CE:6D]k^Am
kAm(96? 2D<65 %9FCD52J :7 E96 A2?6= H@F=5 :?4=F56 =:36C2=D[ '@D 5@5865 E96 BF6DE:@?]k^Am
kAm“x’> ECJ:?8 E@ 92G6 A6@A=6 H9@ 2C6 C6DA64E65 2D D>2CE[” '@D D2:5] “p?5 x E9:?< E92E J@F H:== 7:?5 G6CJ BF:4<=J E92E E96 A6@A=6 E92E H6 2D<65 2C6 3@E9 @7 E9@D6 42E68@C:6D] w@A67F==J E96J 4@>6 324< E@ FD H:E9 E96:C C64@>>6?52E:@?D D@ E92E E96 {68:D=2EFC6 92D 6G6? >@C6 8@@5 :?7@C>2E:@? E@ 24E @? H96E96C @C ?@E :E’D C6BF:C65 7@C FD E@ AC@4665 H:E9 D@>6 <:?5 @7 :>A6249>6?E AC@4665:?8D]”k^Am
k9C ^m
kAmk6>mpDD@4:2E65 !C6DD HC:E6C %@55 #:49>@?5 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E9:D C6A@CE 7C@> |:=H2F<66]k^6>mk^Am
Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox!
Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
