Contact: Alec Zimmerman
(608) 257-4765
(608) 257-4765
Republican Party of Wisconsin Calls on Vinehout to Apologize, And for Democrat Candidates for Governor to Disavow Her Actions
[Madison, WI]— Kathleen Vinehout came under fire today when The Cap Times reported that she had submitted a letter to the court in defense of the character of a man found guilty of possessing child pornography. Vinehout is far from the only Democrat candidate to demonstrate poor judgement on immoral conduct, but this recent development is beyond the pale and even appears to conflict with a pledge signed by another Democrat candidate, Andy Gronik. The Republican Party of Wisconsin released the following statement calling for her to apologize and for her Democrat rivals for governor to disavow her actions:
“It looks like Tony Evers isn’t the only candidate stirring up controversy and displaying bad judgement when it comes to rewarding immoral behavior and abandoning our kids,” said Alec Zimmerman, spokesman for the Republican Party of Wisconsin. “Kathleen Vinehout’s actions are appalling and indefensible – she should apologize immediately to Wisconsin families for her poor judgement, and all Democrats running for governor should immediately disavow her actions.”
See excerpts of the story from The Cap Times below or read the full story online here. Find information on Evers’ failure to act against a teacher caught spreading pornography at school here, and Gronik’s pledge here.
Wisconsin governor candidate Kathleen Vinehout defends reference letter for child porn convict
The Cap Times
Jessie Opoien
September 28, 2017
State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, a Democratic candidate for governor, says she doesn’t believe people will find anything objectionable in a character reference letter she wrote for a legislative attorney found guilty of possession of child pornography.
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Vinehout’s letter, printed on her official state letterhead and dated Nov. 11, 2015, describes Lovell as a “hardworking, intelligent, persistent, dedicated public servant” with “extraordinary diplomatic skills.” Lovell was the Legislative Council staff member assigned to a committee she chaired for four years. Vinehout worked with him on that committee and in several other instances, during which he “went above and beyond the call of duty in his work.”
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“It is appalling that Kathleen Vinehout would abuse her platform as a public official to defend the character and excuse the actions of a man found guilty of possessing child pornography. Sen. Vinehout must apologize to Wisconsin’s families for her poor judgement, and Democrats statewide should disavow her actions,” said Republican Party of Wisconsin spokesman Alec Zimmerman.
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Lovell’s Maple Bluff home was searched in May 2015 after a state Division of Criminal Investigation special agent identified his computer as a source offering to distribute known child pornography on the file-sharing service BitTorrent. Files distributed from Lovell’s computer depicted nude, “early pubescent” females, according to court records.
The search of his personal computer and an external hard drive turned up 10 images, accessed in 2014 and 2015, depicting nude, prepubescent females, according to court records.
Lovell, now 60, received concurrent three-year prison sentences for each count of possession of child pornography, with three years of extended supervision. Five additional counts of possession were dismissed. He has been in prison since June 27, 2017, and will remain on the state’s sex offender registry until 2038.
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Read the full report from The Cap Times here.
