A removal hearing for Calumet County’s district attorney may no longer be necessary. An attorney for D.A. Ken Kratz said Monday that his client plans to resign. Kratz came under fire nearly two weeks ago after the public learned about a series of sexually suggestive text messages that Kratz sent to a domestic abuse victim, while he was prosecuting her ex-boyfriend. Since then several other women have come forward, saying Kratz sent them inappropriate messages, and the state received three verified complaints seeking to have Kratz removed from office.
Kratz’s attorney, Bob Craanen, was in Calumet County court Monday morning to schedule a hearing for the removal process, when he announced that his client will step down. “Ken decided that this was in the best interest of everyone involved,” said Craanen. “He didn’t want to put Stephanie Van Groll through this. He mentioned her specifically,” Craanen said. He said that if if Kratz decided to fight, it would be an uphill battle. “I don’t know if I could pull this one off. I don’t think I could win this thing.” Craanen expects Kratz to send his resignation to Governor Doyle soon. If the governor doesn’t receive and accept the resignation by October 8th, the removal process will continue with a hearing that day.
Rick Schuh, WHBY