GOP Senator Slams Evers’ Commutation Board
The political firestorm over Governor Tony Evers’ newly revived commutation process escalated Wednesday after a Republican state lawmaker released the names of more than 800 inmates seeking early release, revealing fierce opposition from local prosecutors and judges.
State Senator Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) published a list of 810 applicants following an open records request his office filed in May. Wanggaard received over 1,800 pages of documents from the governor’s office on Tuesday, which included specific application materials for inmates scheduled to appear before the Commutation Advisory Board for its inaugural meeting this Friday.
“The people who prosecuted and heard these cases oppose the commutations nearly unanimously,” Wanggaard said in a press release. “Now, Governor Evers is using hand-picked, unelected bureaucrats to second guess the people actually involved in the case to overturn their sentences years later! That should upset everyone in Wisconsin.”
According to Wanggaard, the internal documents show nearly uniform resistance from the local officials who originally handled the cases on Friday’s docket. The senator stated that every District Attorney who prosecuted the cases opposes the sentence commutations, and only one presiding judge was open to even considering a commutation, taking into account the wishes of the victims’ family.
The records release comes just two days before the Commutation Advisory Board is set to hold the state’s first commutation hearings in 25 years. As the Dairyland Sentinel previously reported, the board will interview a slate of inmates serving decades-long sentences, including six individuals convicted of homicide. Wanggaard highlighted that four of those applicants were convicted of first-degree intentional homicide, while another was convicted of two counts of the same charge.
“For four months, Evers’ plan to release criminals early has been clouded in secrecy,” Wanggaard said. “The public has a right to know which dangerous criminals Evers is considering releasing. And it’s clear it’s some of the worst-of-the-worst.”
Wanggaard’s office noted that they are still reviewing the 1,800 pages of documents and the criminal histories of the over 800 felons requesting early release, adding that they will be seeking additional records from the governor’s office.
Members of the public can view the list of the 810 commutation applications submitted through August 14 on Senator Wanggaard’s official website. Friday’s Commutation Advisory Board hearing will be streamed live via WisconsinEye.
Previously at Dairyland Sentinel
