Dane County Judge Orders Release Of Schimel Training Videos

A Dane County judge has ordered the state Department of Justice to release two videos of training sessions led by Republican attorney general candidate Brad Schimel.

The state Democratic Party had asked for the videos under the state’s open records law because participants in the sessions claim Schimel made inappropriate comments while discussing how to investigate and prosecute Internet child sex predators. Judge Richard Niess, however, has watched the videos and said there’s no evidence of misconduct on Schimel’s part.

He also said that the videos include information the public needs to know.

“The public needs to know how to protect their children from these types of individuals,” said Niess. “And if this is stuff is going on on the Internet, the best way to stop crime is to prevent crime, not to prosecute the perpetrators. Yes, you need to prosecute the perpetrators, but if you can stop the perpetrators from getting to your children to begin with, that is far better — and I think Mr. Schimel would agree.”

Schimel, however, is against the release of the videos. In an email from his campaign, he said that the videos will give defense attorneys and predators tips on how to avoid getting caught and convicted.

The DOJ has until Friday to file an appeal to block the release of the videos. The Democratic Party’s attorney Michael Bauer says if there is an appeal, it suggests there may be something damaging on them.

“If in fact the videos show Mr. Schimel as a shining public servant, you’d think they’d want these videos out rather than trying to drag it out past the elections.”

If an appeal is filed Friday, Niess said he will stay his order to release the videos pending a hearing on Monday.