Wisconsin GOP governor candidate says she'd fire DA in Waukesha 'parade massacre' on 'Day One'

Kleefisch is seeking to oust Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers during the 2022 midterm elections

By Ben Whedon

Published: May 13, 2022 7:36pm

Updated: May 13, 2022 9:33pm

Wisconsin GOP gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Kleefisch is running on a get-tough-on-crime agenda to unseat Democrat Gov. Tony Evers, saying Friday his "permissive culture" allowed the 2021 Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy to happen.

"The Waukesha parade massacre killed six people, injured 61. And it's because of his permissive culture," she said Friday on the "Just the News – Not Noise" livestream TV show on the Real America's Voice network.

Kleenfish, who was lieutenant governor under GOP Gov. Scott Walker, also took particular aim at Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm who admitted that prior to the crime the suspect was out of jail on an "inappropriately low" bail, though he blamed the failure on a "mistake" made by a young prosecutor.

"In 2007, he was interviewed, and he said that he knew what would happen," Kleenfish also said of Chisholm. "In fact, he said, 'I guarantee it.' And it did happen. And Tony Evers right now has within his wherewithal to fire this man, this man with blood on his hands, and he won't do it. I will fire the district attorney of Milwaukee County, and I will fire him on day one."

Darrell Brooks, then 39, is charge in the case with driving an SUV through the parade.