A Milwaukee County judge says he will not withdraw from a criminal case against one of Governor Scott Walker’s former county staff members.
Circuit Judge Dennis Cimpl signed a petition to recall the governor, which he does not believe shows any evidence of bias towards the defendant in the case. Cimpl is presiding over the prosecution former Walker appointee Kevin Kavanaugh, who is charged with embezzling over $40,000. A large portion of that money was from a Milwaukee County event that benefits Wisconsin veterans.
Kavanaugh’s lawyer asked the judge to withdraw but, speaking from the bench today, Judge Cimpl said the “case is not about Governor Walker. It’s about somebody using his position to steal stuff.”
Kavanaugh is among five former Walker aides and associates charged as the result of an ongoing John Doe investigation into the activities of Milwaukee County government when Walker was the county executive. Kavanaugh is due back in court May fourth to review the status of his case.
Cimpl is one of nine Milwaukee County circuit judges found to have signed Walker recall petitions.