A pair of local Democrat elected officials held a press conference Tuesday in Madison in which they addressed concerns over the ongoing situation at the Capitol, with protests over Republican Governor Scott Walker’s controversial budget repair bill.
Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne said he’s reviewed a widely publicized prank phone call to the governor. “I have listened to the phone call repeatedly, and I at this time do not find any criminal liability,” said Ozanne. “Even though the statements made are very concerning, and actually some are quite alarming, I think it’s safe to say that even though they are alarming and concerning, there is no crime here. But it speaks directly to character.” Ozanne was referring to the conversation between Walker and a blogger representing himself as billionaire industrialist David Koch. While the governor did decline an offer to bring in agitators to disrupt protests at the Capitol, he did say “we thought about that.” Ozanne said he’d like to know more about that conversation. “Who was this conversation with? Where was it held, when was it held? Those sort of facts would be telling,” said Ozanne. “I don’t necessarily believe that we are going to have any more detail than what we’ve had already, and with what we have there is no crime that I can see.”
Sheriff Dave Mahoney addressed the situation of limiting protester access to the capitol. Mahoney wanted no part of it. “When (deputies were) asked to stand guard on the doors, that duty was turned over to the State Patrol, because our deputies would not stand to be palace guards,” said Mahoney. “I refused to put our deputies in the position to to be palace guards.” D.A. Ozanne also said there’s no basis for charges against the 14 missing Senate Democrats – that frustrating the Senate majority is not a crime.
Robin Colbert, WIBA