Ken Kratz officially resigns, but that’s not enough for an advocate group against domestic violence.
The Calumet County District Attorney is accused of “sexting” a domestic violence victim while prosecuting her ex-boyfriend. Ken Kratz submitted a letter of resignation Monday morning to Governor Jim Doyle.
Patti Seger, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence, is happy with the news. “It is a good day. It is the first step in restoring the trust on the part of victims back into a system that is designed to protect them. And I think there’s a lot of healing that needs to happen and his resignation opens up the door for healing to occur.”
Seger believes his actions fall under the definition of the stalking law, but says the Attorney General’s office will have to make the final decision on whether to file stalking charges against the 50-year-old Kratz. Seger says this Kratz case has diminished the amount of faith abuse victims have in the criminal justice system. “And whether or not female victims are really heard in the system or really protected in the system. And so, you know, I think it’s going to be a little bit of a long haul to restore trust in the Justice System.”
But Seger admits quick action by the governor and other officials has offered hope. She says without such pressure, Kratz might have waited until the whole thing just disappeared as the media moved on to the next big story. Kratz is stepping down from the post he’s held for the past 18 years, but in his press release, the longtime prosecutor indicated he hopes to eventually resume his legal career.
An official complaint was filed last month against Kratz, after he admitted to sending the racy text messages. Four other women made similar allegations after the first one was made public.