This post is part of our coverage of the 2017 state GOP convention in Wisconsin Dells. See more coverage here.
AG Brad Schimel slammed possible Dem opponent Josh Kaul as the “handpicked lawyer” of George Soros who was one of Hillary Clinton’s attorneys in the “wasteful” recount of Wisconsin’s presidential vote last fall.
Schimel also took a swipe at Kaul’s mom, former Dem AG Peg Lautenschlager, calling her an activist, and said Kaul, a former federal prosecutor in Baltimore, didn’t practice law in Wisconsin until three years ago.
“He has made a career out of suing states like ours to undo voter ID laws that protect the integrity of your vote, including being one of the lead attorneys attacking Wisconsin’s voter ID law. How’s that for a contrast?” Schimel said, noting he is defending the law.
Schimel told the crowd he didn’t have time to talk about all the promises he has kept since taking office in 2015, particularly to put law enforcement over politics.
Still, he touted the work of his solicitor general’s office to fight rules put forward by the Obama administration, including clean air regulations that were challenged in court.
“We held the Obama administration at bay long enough for the Republican cavalry to arrive in Washington, D.C.” Schimel said.
Schimel also took a dig at former President Obama. He said Republicans got President Regan because of President Carter, thanking the Dem for that.
“President Obama gave us everything,” Schimel said.
State Dem spokesman Brandon Weathersby fired back that Schimel has spent tax dollars “recklessly on self promotion” and lied about the state’s progress on easing the backlog of untested sexual assault kits.
“Wisconsin deserves a real attorney general who will make public safety a top priority and work on the public’s behalf — not their own,” Weathersby said.
