Ken Kratz: Medical Leave

Ken Kratz, Calumet County's disgraced district attorney, announced in a statement this morning that's he taking "medical leave" for an undetermined amount of time.

From WLUK:

Calumet County District Attorney Ken Kratz announced he is taking medical leave starting today.

His decision was announced Monday morning in a news release to the local media. The length of the leave is undetermined.

The announcement comes after it was revealed that Kratz sent what some are calling inappropriate text messages to a domestic abuse victim.

FOX 11 has learned that Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and Governor Jim Doyle will meet this afternoon to discuss the situation. The governor has the power to remove a district attorney from office.

...Kratz has said he plans to stay in office after what he called a "lapse in judgment."

He has also hired attorney Robert Craanen to represent him in the case. Craanen specializes in employment law and tells FOX 11 he will fight any attempt to remove Kratz from his position.

Craanen said Kratz's medical leave is not related to any "serious physical ailment."

Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Froehlich will handle all of the county's cases while Kratz is on leave.

Kratz' attorney has advised him to no longer speak publicly about the text messages.

From the Associated Press:

If Doyle takes that step, Craanen said Kratz would have the option of contesting the decision in a hearing.

"This is just a really inappropriately bad mistake by this DA after many years of commitment to the community," Craanen said. "This could potentially wreck his career. It's got nothing to do with evidence, with misdoing — he was never charged with anything ... He's the first to admit this was quite a mistake, but it shouldn't really define his career. And he's been a great DA."

State Rep. Bob Ziegelbauer of Manitowoc joined the calls for Kratz's resignation Monday.

"Kratz has made serious mistakes which permanently undermine his credibility and impair his ability to properly carry out his duties," he said in a statement.

Kratz's absence leaves only one prosecutor in his office, Jeffrey Froehlich, and several pending cases that Kratz was prosecuting. For instance, Kratz said last week he would handle a sexual assault trial set to begin Wednesday and other important cases he couldn't reassign.

In the statement Monday, Kratz said he believed the court would "make reasonable calendar adjustments consistent with the office staffing level."

Craanen would not comment on Kratz's medical condition or estimate how long he would be on leave. Last week, Kratz said he would get individual psychotherapy treatment for "this issue," but would not elaborate.

Obviously, Kratz is NOT going quietly.

Taking the medical route, using that as an excuse for his unacceptable, unprofessional behavior, is lame.

Kratz is attempting to weasel out of taking personal responsibility for his terrible choices. He's trying to paint himself as the victim of a medical condition, something beyond his control. Poor ill Ken Kratz.

The medicalization of this situation isn't going to fly.

Kratz's bad judgment isn't just related to sending inappropriate text messages. It extends to his handling of this scandal.

To salvage his career and "rehabilitate" his credibility, he should have resigned and reemerged later, like the disgraced Eliot Spitzer.

Even Spitzer realized he couldn't survive the revelations about his penchant for high-priced whores. He had to step down.

Kratz doesn't recognize that he's making things worse rather than better. He got caught. He must face the consequences like a man, not a weasel. Now he has to be held accountable, but he won't accept that.

If he thinks he can conduct himself so unprofessionally with impunity, he's wrong.

Maybe Kratz is sick, but I don't think so.

Is arrogance an illness?
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UPDATE, September 20, 2010: Doyle ready to begin removal process against DA
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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