Committee Files Signatures To Recall Trempealeau County District Attorney

A committee filed a petition this week with more than 3,000 signatures to recall the Trempealeau County District Attorney, Taavi McMahon.

The signatures follow a year of complaints about his performance in and out of the courtroom, including his office administrator filing a lawsuit and a judge criticizing his actions in a sexual assault case.

Some members of the county, led by Osseo Police Chief William Prudlick, created the Recall Taavi McMahon Committee in May of this year to start collecting signatures. In the initial paperwork to begin the process, they said McMahon “demonstrated inability to effectively prosecute cases” and failed to “comply with the rules of the court.”

McMahon said though he has faced much backlash, he is proud of the work he and his team have done for the county. He said they always use evidence-based decision making for cases.

“It is hard work and it’s important work,” McMahon said. “It’s, frankly, insulting that our work would be called into question.”

He criticized the recall committee, saying they based their efforts on lies. And said he is filing a complaint with the Wisconsin Elections Commission about how they collected the signatures.

“It’s important to remember that the people who filed the recall committee started by telling lies,” McMahon said. “They apparently have used some very deceptive signature-gathering skills.”

The WEC has 31 days after a petition is submitted to verify all the signatures included.

Members of the Trempealeau County Board of Supervisors declined to comment. The recall committee leaders failed to return multiple calls and emails.