Charges were filed Monday against five Democratic activists involved in last November’s tire slashing of Wisconsin Republican Party vans. The rented vans were intended for transporting voters to the polls Election Day.
The recent charges have evoked a debate between Democrats, Republicans and Wisconsin citizens who hope for a day when election ethics will improve in the state.
“This is not something we in any way condone or support. Anything that calls into question the sanctity of elections is something we deplore,” Seth Boffeli, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, said.
U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore’s son was one of the five charged with criminal property damage, a charge with a maximum penalty of three and a half years and a fine of $10,000.
Among the others charged were Milwaukee residents Michael Pratt, Lewis Caldwell and Lavelle Mohammad, as well as Justine Howell of Racine.
Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann brought the charges against the five.
“Ethically, [these are] serious charges,” McCann said. “It’s a matter of serious concern for our community.” McCann had no other comments.
Some have criticized McCann for taking too long to charge the alleged criminals — more than two months.
“We are pleased to see that after a rather lengthy wait of two and a half months, those allegedly responsible are going to be brought to justice,” Republican Party of Wisconsin spokesperson Chris Lato said. “Our key hope now is that those responsible, if found guilty, are processed to the fullest extent of the law.”
The individuals charged with the criminal offenses were paid staff of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, causing some Republicans to believe the incident was a “deliberate act of political sabotage,” according to Lato.
“This was a coordinated, premeditated effort to prevent people from getting to the polls and engaging in their constitutional right to vote. This ought to trouble everyone,” Lato added.
Boffeli denied his party knew of any intentions of the vandalism, which caused damage to the tires of 25 rental cars. Bofelli added the DPW fully complied with McCann in the investigation, providing witness and contact information for anyone who could help.
“Republicans are trying desperately to cast stories of … conspiracies, but their overheated rhetoric shouldn’t be allowed to confuse the facts of the case,” Boffeli said.
Democrats had a successful election in Wisconsin and are upset the criminal incidents are casting shadows over their “tremendous” victory in Wisconsin and Milwaukee, according to Boffeli.
Rather than casting blame toward any one party, Jay Heck of Common Cause of Wisconsin said he believes there is a bigger issue at hand — the deteriorating state of Wisconsin politics. The reason for problems like these, said Heck, is the vast amount of money involved in state and national politics.
“It makes much more sense to have less [focus] on money and more discussion on issues people want to talk about,” Heck said. “This really turns citizens off from politics — they … become demoralized and cynical that our government and leaders are watching out for their interests rather than their own partisan issues.”
