Ken Kratz: Autopsy Date

Calumet Country District Attorney Ken Kratz's "lapse in judgment" with Stephanie Van Groll wasn't the only time he "lapsed" with a woman.

Another woman has come forward with allegations of inappropriate behavior by Kratz, and Gov. Jim Doyle is poised to begin the process to remove him from office.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Shortly after his office released a letter detailing what he called "unimaginable" new allegations against Calumet County District Attorney Kenneth R. Kratz, Gov. Jim Doyle said Monday he will begin the process of removing the prosecutor from office as soon as possible.

Doyle said he cannot take steps to remove Kratz from office until he receives a formal complaint from a resident of Calumet County. He said he expects to receive such a complaint soon, possibly this week.

Kratz, 50, has been under intense pressure to resign since it was revealed last week that he sent sexually suggestive text messages to a domestic violence victim while he was prosecuting her ex-boyfriend last year.

More allegations against Kratz surfaced Monday, when Doyle's office released a letter from a second woman who says Kratz discussed confidential details of an active investigation with her and even invited her to watch a crime victim's autopsy.

Doyle said an aide has spoken with the woman making the latest allegations, but his office has not had a chance to verify her allegations.

"It's mind-boggling," Doyle said of the accusations. "To have an autopsy be used for the premise of a social engagement is just beyond anything anyone can imagine, I think. . . .  That's the part that concerns me the most because it's really the use of official duties, in his official status as district attorney, for purposes completely unrelated to his job as district attorney."

..."It is my intention to move very, very swiftly upon receipt of a verified complaint," Doyle said.

He said he hoped to resolve the situation within 30 days of receiving a complaint and did not anticipate Kratz's medical leave slowing the process. Kratz is being paid while he is on leave, Doyle said.

...Doyle said he was surprised the Office of Lawyer Regulation had not taken action on a complaint filed against Kratz.

"It's hard to believe there is not a violation of the code of professional responsibility for attorneys that are involved," Doyle said.

I rarely agree with Doyle, but this time I do.

Read the letter sent to Doyle by the second woman to accuse Kratz of inappropriate behavior.

The Journal Sentinel summarizes the woman's story as relayed in the letter:

The woman who wrote the letter released by Doyle's office Monday said Kratz contacted her on Match.com in December. She said they had dinner at a Green Bay restaurant in January, and that during the meal Kratz took several phone calls from detectives investigating the disappearance of a person who investigators believed had been killed.

The woman, whose name was redacted from the letter, wrote that Kratz discussed several aspects of the case with her that had not been revealed to the public. The woman wrote that she and Kratz communicated by text for a couple of days after their dinner.

The woman wrote in the letter that Kratz eventually sent a text "inviting me to go with him to the autopsy (provided I would be his girlfriend and would wear high heels and a skirt)."

This guy maybe really does need a doctor.

Inviting a woman on a date to attend an autopsy and demanding that she wear high heels and a skirt is really weird, not to mention crossing the line professionally.

Kratz is toast.

He should resign now before Doyle removes him from office.

However, since Kratz is being paid while he's on "medical leave," I think the odds of him resigning are very slim.

WLUK video.



Watch Doyle's news conference.
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UPDATE, September 21, 2010: Kratz calls autopsy allegation 'ridiculous'
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UPDATE, September 21, 2010: Woman claims Kratz harassed her as she sought pardon

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UPDATE, September 21, 2010: Two more women step forward, accuse Kratz
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UPDATE, September 23, 2010: Kenosha County DA encouraged woman to go public with Kratz allegation
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UPDATE, September 25, 2010: Fifth woman has complaint about DA
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UPDATE, September 29, 2010: Embattled DA wasn't candid in statements, board says