Group of Wisconsin leaders call for answers on federal agents coming to Milwaukee

Mary Spicuzza
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

A group of Wisconsin Democratic leaders is calling for answers about the Trump administration's plans to send federal agents to Milwaukee.

"Given that neither the President nor Attorney General Barr consulted us, as elected leaders for Wisconsin and Milwaukee, about this increased federal presence, it is imperative that we, and the people we represent, receive specific details about the nature of this effort," reads the letter, which was sent Tuesday by Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Rep. Gwen Moore, Gov. Tony Evers, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.

The letter was addressed to Matthew Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Matthew Krueger was nominated to be U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin by President Donald Trump.

Krueger told the Journal Sentinel and other news outlets last week that federal agents coming to Milwaukee in several weeks will focus on violent crime, illegal gun cases and slowing the city's rising homicide rate, insisting their arrival was not a response to protests or civil unrest.

The group wrote that they appreciate his statements, but added that they still want more answers about the plan.

"The recent conduct of federal agents in Portland, Oregon, has caused great concern in Milwaukee and Wisconsin about the purpose and scope of any expanded federal law enforcement mission in our city and state," the letter reads. "We want to make it very clear that we do not support anything similar to what we have seen in Portland, Oregon, here in Wisconsin."

The influx of federal officers will coincide with Milwaukee hosting a scaled-back, mostly virtual Democratic National Convention and ongoing protests against police brutality and racism.

The effort is part of the U.S. Department of Justice's Operation Legend, which recently brought more than 200 federal officers into Kansas City after a 4-year-old boy was shot and killed.

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows had suggested such federal intervention was on its way in a weekend TV interview, prompting Evers to send a letter opposing such intervention citing recent reports from Portland, Oregon, where federal officers in unmarked vehicles have grabbed protesters off the street without any record of their detention.

In Tuesday's letter, some of Wisconsin's most powerful Democrats also asked for a number of specific details, including:

  • How many federal agents would be deployed, and for how long?
  • Which agencies will be sending agents?
  • Will contractors be used or deputized?
  • What are the federal, state and local costs?
  • What is the chain of command?
  • Who will supervise the agents in Milwaukee?
  • Where will federal agents operate?
  • What training do the agents have?
  • What types of crimes will the agents investigate?
  • Will they at any time be engaged in crowd control or similar activities?
  • Will they at any time be engaged in protecting federal property?
  • Will the federal personnel and the agencies they represent be consistently identifiable to members of the public?
  • Will the mission of Operation Legend change substantially?

"While we were disappointed in the manner in which this program was announced by Attorney General Barr and the White House, we appreciate you speaking to several of us in recent days," they wrote. "We look forward to your prompt response to these questions and working with you to ensure the people of Wisconsin understand the purpose and scope of this operation."

Members of the Milwaukee Common Council have also raised concerns about the plan.

District Attorney John Chisholm told council members at a meeting Monday that the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office will prosecute federal agents who violate the law.

Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm speaks at a vigil.

"Kidnapping, false imprisonment, unlawful assault — those are simply crimes," Chisholm said. "Those are crimes no matter who commits them, whether it's a federal agent or a citizen. You can't do that, not in the United States, and it won't be tolerated here."

Contact Mary Spicuzza at (414) 224-2324 or mary.spicuzza@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MSpicuzzaMJS.