A Dane County judge says the state Department of Justice must release two training videos that feature the Republican candidate for attorney general, Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel, even though the agency argues that making them public could put public safety at risk and violate the privacy of crime victims.
The two videos are of training sessions Schimel performed for fellow prosecutors. The state Democratic Party sought their release, along with video of three other sessions, based on claims that they may include objectionable statements made by Schimel. The DOJ says videos of the other sessions does not exist or could not be located.
After reviewing the two tapes, Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Niess said he found nothing offensive on them and ordered them to be released by Friday afternoon, unless the state appeals. If the DOJ does challenge the decision, another hearing is expected on Monday…the day before Schimel faces Democratic candidate for attorney general Susan Happ in a hotly contested election race for attorney general.