CHILTON, Wis., Sept. 21 (UPI) -- Wisconsin's Justice Department will handle the expected removal hearing for a county district attorney accused of so-called sexting, an official said Tuesday.
State Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said his department will act as prosecutor in the proceedings against Calumet County District Attorney Ken Kratz that were ordered by Gov. Jim Doyle, The (Appleton) Post-Crescent reported.
On Friday, two days after sexually suggestive text messages he had sent to a woman were made public, Kratz, 50, said he was taking an indefinite medical leave. On Monday, a second woman leveled similar charges and Tuesday, a third woman came forward with claims she had been harassed via text message by Kratz, ABC News reported it had confirmed.
Kratz has said he will not resign and won't comment any further on the case.
The state Office of Lawyer Regulation determined this spring there was no ethical violation and the Justice Department's criminal division determined no crime had been committed, the Post-Crescent said. However, Doyle, several state lawmakers, the state district attorneys' group and domestic abuse victims' advocacy organizations have called for Kratz to step down.
Van Hollen can't start any removal action against Kratz until a Calumet County taxpayer registers a formal complaint, which Doyle said he expected to occur soon, the newspaper said. Once a hearing is held, the governor will decide whether to remove the county prosecutor.
Doyle said the case could take a month to resolve.
