Ken Kratz: Resign

UPDATE, September 29, 2010: Embattled DA wasn't candid in statements, board says
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UPDATE, September 25, 2010: Fifth woman has complaint about DA
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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 21, 2010: Two more women step forward, accuse Kratz
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UPDATE, September 21, 2010: Woman claims Kratz harassed her as she sought pardon
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UPDATE, September 20, 2010: Doyle ready to begin removal process against DA
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UPDATE, September 20, 2010: Kratz takes medical leave; Length of leave is undetermined
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UPDATE: Ken Kratz statement, September 17, video and transcript
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UPDATE: DA group calls on Kratz to resign

The Wisconsin District Attorneys Association called Friday for Calumet County District Attorney Kenneth R. Kratz to resign over sexually suggestive text messages he sent to a crime victim last year.

In a public letter to Kratz, the association said his actions were "repugnant" and were "neither unintentional nor innocent."

"Your behavior has cast aspersions on our entire profession," says the letter, which was approved by a unanimous resolution of the group's executive committee.

The letter goes on to say that the association's members would fire any of their subordinates who communicated with a crime victim in a similar manner. They also wrote that they would ask Gov. Jim Doyle to determine whether Kratz could be removed from office if he doesn't resign.

Doyle spokesman Adam Collins said Friday that the governor is "very surprised and shocked by these deeply troubling accounts." Doyle will be in contact with Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen "to discuss all options," Collins said.

Short of a resignation, Kratz could be removed from office through a recall election or by the governor.

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Advocates for domestic abuse victims as well as state lawmakers are calling for Ken Kratz to resign.

Harbor House Domestic Abuse Programs, Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault all issued statements saying Kratz acted inappropriately.

Midwest Domestic Violence Resource Center, State Rep. Terese Berceau, D-Madison, and State Rep. Fred Kessler, D-Milwaukee, say Kratz should resign.

A state lawmaker is calling on Gov. Jim Doyle to remove a Wisconsin prosecutor who sent inappropriate text messages to a domestic abuse victim.

Democratic Rep. Fred Kessler of Milwaukee, a former judge, says Doyle should appoint an investigator to look into Calumet County District Attorney Ken Kratz's behavior.

If the allegations of sexually harassing text messages to the woman are true, Kessler says Kratz should be removed from office.

FOX 11 Video.


The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Editorial Board is also calling for Kratz to resign.

The Calumet County district attorney either needs to resign or be recalled after sending sexually suggestive text messages to a domestic violence victim while he was prosecuting the woman's ex-boyfriend.

If he refuses to quit, voters should petition for a recall election to remove him from office. He has proven himself unfit for the job.

...Kevin Potter, administrator of the state's Division of Legal Services, said in an e-mail to state officials last November that Kratz had crossed a line into what could be construed as sexual harassment.

We would go a step further. His text messages were sexual harassment. Kratz victimized the victim.

Kratz said he was embarrassed by "his lapse of judgment." He says the state Office of Lawyer Regulation found no professional misconduct in this case.

If that's true, we disagree with the finding.

Kratz crossed a line. Now, he should resign or be shown the door.

I agree. Kratz should resign.

I would hope Wisconsin would exhibit higher standards and refuse to tolerate the sort of behavior displayed by Kratz rather than brushing it off as being in no criminal or ethical violation.

Wisconsin isn't CBS and Kratz isn't David Letterman.