Waukesha-Area Lawmakers Respond To Evers' Milwaukee DA Decision

WAUKESHA, WI—Fourteen 14 Republican legislators signed a letter to Gov. Tony Evers in response to his decision that he won't act on a petition asking him to remove Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm from office.

Evers based his decision "on outside legal review," according to a letter signed by the Office of Legal Counsel.

The letter from Waukesha-area lawmakers said hiring an outside legal counsel was "cowardly" and implored the governor to investigate and remove Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm.

"It is time to do your job. Governing is about making choices," the letter from lawmakers said.
The letter added, "With Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm, we need an investigation, not an evasion. "

Evers responded to a petition submitted by several Milwaukee County residents, including conservative group Empower Wisconsin, after the Nov. 21 Waukesha Christmas parade in which six people died.

The man charged in the incident had been released from custody earlier in the day after bail was set at $1,000 despite felony charges — bail that Chisholm later acknowledged was "inappropriately low."

In rejecting the petition, Evers' office said it "fails to meet the legal standards under state law for a governor to initiate removal proceedings."

Patch reached out to Chisholm's office Wednesday and Evers' office on Thursday for comment.

Darrell Brooks Jr., 39, was charged with six counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the deaths of Virginia Sorenson, LeAnna Owen, Tamara Durand, Jane Kulich, Wilhelm Hospel and Jackson Sparks in the parade incident.

On Wednesday 71 new charges were added to an amended complaint.

The existing and new charges, according to online court records, include:

• First-degree intentional homicide (six counts).
• First-degree recklessly endangering safety (61 counts).
• Hit and run-resulting in death (six counts).
• Felony bail jumping (two counts).
• Misdemeanor battery (two counts).

Brooks is scheduled to appear in court on Friday morning for a preliminary hearing.