CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Democratic AG hopeful Kaul: Schimel 'failed' on rape kit testing

Janesville Gazette - 5/30/2018

May 30--JANESVILLE -- Attorney General Brad Schimel came under fire Tuesday from his likely Democratic opponent after the state Department of Justice announced all remaining untested sexual assault kits in its possession would be tested by the end of the year.

Josh Kaul told The Gazette in an interview that testing sexual assault kits "wasn't a priority" when Schimel took office in 2015 and said that thousands of kits had yet to yield results.

"I think the AG has failed on this issue," Kaul said. "Testing still has not been completed on over half the kits that need to be tested in the backlog. Justice has been delayed for survivors. People who have committed serious offenses who should be in jail are still on the streets."

According to the Department of Justice, 48 sexual assault kits were still untested. Schimel said Tuesday they had been submitted to private labs for testing. Since January 2017, the department said testing on 1,884 kits had finished while 2,271 kits were still undergoing tests.

Schimel responded to Kaul in a statement released to The Gazette.

"To suggest these kits could have been tested any faster demonstrates my opponent's inexperience and unpreparedness for the job," Schimel said. "He has no plan to get these kits tested. I've led since day one to ensure every kit gets tested."

Schimel, a Republican, is seeking a second term as attorney general. Because both men are their party's only declared candidates, they will likely face each other in the Nov. 6 general election.

Kaul, the son of former Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager, claimed Schimel has failed in responding to the opioid epidemic. Kaul said he would consider filing a lawsuit against large pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers of prescription opioids -- something Schimel has not done.

Though Kaul noted Schimel has joined a multi-state investigation into pharmaceutical manufacturers, he said Schimel "has not demonstrated any serious commitment to holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for the role that they've played in creating and exacerbating this epidemic."

On school safety, Kaul claimed Schimel's leadership "hasn't been effective" and said he does not support arming teachers, something Schimel suggested in February. Kaul said he wants to dedicate resources to mental health support and "common-sense gun safety measures."

While Kaul said he does not support a ban on semi-automatic weapons, he said he backs a ban on bump stocks and would support a "universal background check system."

As a former federal prosecutor in Baltimore, Kaul said he has prosecuted murder cases, gang members and large-scale drug trafficking. As attorney general, he said he would want the position to remain independent while "even-handedly enforcing laws that protect our natural resources, laws that protect consumers and our labor laws."

In his statement Tuesday, Schimel said: "From my record fighting the opioid epidemic, battling human trafficking, putting away career criminals and fighting for victims of abuse, I am the only candidate in this race with the necessary experience and plan to lead the Department of Justice."

___

(c)2018 The Janesville Gazette (Janesville, Wis.)

Visit The Janesville Gazette (Janesville, Wis.) at www.gazetteextra.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.