In a surprising turn of events, a Wisconsin prosecutor has announced she will not pursue felony charges against a Republican lawmaker accused of attempting to evade state campaign finance laws in a Trump-backed effort to oust the powerful speaker of the Assembly.
Prosecutor’s Rationale
Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper cited a lack of sufficient evidence to proceed with charges against Rep. Janel Brandtjen, despite recommendations from the bipartisan Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Opper becomes the fourth county prosecutor to decline charges related to the alleged scheme.
Unraveling the Allegations
The ethics commission claims that former President Donald Trump’s fundraising committee, along with Brandtjen and other allies, conspired to funnel money into Republican challenger Adam Steen’s campaign in the 2022 primary race against Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. This alleged strategy aimed to circumvent state fundraising limits in an attempt to unseat Vos.
Trump’s Displeasure
Vos had drawn Trump’s ire by dismissing a former state Supreme Court justice hired to investigate Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election. As a result, Trump threw his support behind Steen, praising him as a “motivated patriot.”
Narrow Victory for Vos
Despite the allegations, Vos, the longest-serving Assembly speaker in Wisconsin history, emerged victorious from the primary by a mere 260 votes. The ethics commission estimates that over ,000 was channeled into the effort to defeat Vos.
County Prosecutors’ Stance
Opper’s decision to decline charges echoes the stance taken by three other county prosecutors. Prosecutors in Dane, Portage, and Walworth counties have all determined that insufficient evidence exists to pursue felony cases.
State Attorney General’s Potential Role
While the county prosecutors have declined charges, the fate of the case may ultimately lie with the state attorney general, Democrat Josh Kaul. Kaul has the authority to prosecute the allegations.
Public Opinion vs. Legal Proof
Opper emphasized that her decision did not absolve Brandtjen of any wrongdoing, but rather that there was not enough concrete evidence to build a case. She further stated that compelling communication intercepts may be influential in the court of public opinion, but not in a court of law.
Lingering Questions
The decision to decline charges leaves many questions unanswered. The allegations remain unresolved, and it remains to be seen whether the state attorney general will pursue the case. The incident serves as a reminder of the complexities of political maneuvering and the intricate balance between electoral ethics and legal proof.
Data sourced from: foxnews.com
