(Wisconsin Attorney General) Lautenschlager arrested for DUI

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ^ | Feb. 24, 2004 | STEVEN WALTERS

[mafree]

Madison - State Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager said today that she was arrested for drunken driving in Dodge County while returning to her Fond du Lac home from the Capitol on Monday.

Lautenschlager, 48, said in a statement that she had made a "terrible mistake" and added: "While driving home, I fell asleep and drove off the road, and was subsequently cited for operating a vehicle while intoxicated."

In her statement, she promised to "accept the consequences of and will take responsibility for my actions."

According to the Dodge County sheriff's report on the arrest, Lautenschlager refused to take a test to determine her blood-alcohol level.

She was driving a state-owned car when she was arrested.

Lautenschlager, whose office works closely with local and state police agencies and operates state crime labs, thanked Dodge County officers in her statement "for their professionalism in handling this matter."

She has been released from custody.

A Democrat, she is a former state legislator and U.S. attorney appointed by former President Clinton. She was elected the state's first female attorney general in 2002.

An aide said Lautenschlager was not available for comment today.

Lautenschlager commutes to the Capitol from her Fond du Lac home and usually drives alone to state appearances. As a former federal prosecutor, whose spouse is a retired law enforcement officer, Lautenschlager has received considerable political backing from law officers.

More details of her arrest were not immediately available.

Complete coverage of this story will appear online later today and in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in the morning.

[mafree]

She supposedly registered at 1.2 but claims she only had a couple glasses of wine.

[mafree]

Can you ping the WI list please? Thanks.

[kayak]

ping

[CA Conservative]

Notice how long it took for them to mention she was a Dem? If she was a Pubbie, that would have been in the first sentence, if not in the headline.

[No Blue States]

I was surprised to see this written in the article:

"A Democrat, she is a former state legislator and U.S. attorney appointed by former President Clinton."

Facts like those are usually left out.

[Atlas Sneezed]

She supposedly registered at 1.2 but claims she only had a couple glasses of wine.

---

And she was probably in support of lowering BAC levels to 0.08 prior to getting caught.

But since she couldn't keep control of her car at what *should* be the legal threshold, she deserves a substantial punishment.

[mafree]

I noticed that too.

[Protagoras]

According to the Dodge County sheriff's report on the arrest, Lautenschlager refused to take a test to determine her blood-alcohol level.

I see she wasn't too intoxicated to understand that you never give the police the evidence they use to convict you.

[af_vet_1981]

She was driving a state-owned car when she was arrested. Lautenschlager, whose office works closely with local and state police agencies and operates state crime labs, thanked Dodge County officers in her statement "for their professionalism in handling this matter." She has been released from custody. A Democrat, she is a former state legislator and U.S. attorney appointed by former President Clinton. She was elected the state's first female attorney general in 2002.

I predict she will resign.

[giznort]

And a state-owned car too! I wonder if she loses her job over this? Probably only if she were a Republican.

[GraniteStateConservative]

She only won with 51.6% of the vote in 2002. Maybe we can win a special election if she resigns.

[concerned about politics]

A Democrat, she is a former state legislator and U.S. attorney appointed by former President Clinton.

Think CNN will report this? (Didn't think so)

Democrats feel they're above the law. Laws are for the peasant tax slaves, not them. That's just the way they are.

[mafree]

You're right.

[Grampa Dave]

Of course hidden in the middle of the article, we find out what political party she comes from:

A Democrat, she is a former state legislator and U.S. attorney appointed by former President Clinton. She was elected the state's first female attorney general in 2002.

Is there a Controlling Legal Authority in Wisconsin or is she it?

[Indy Pendance]

Are you kidding? Governor Doyle, major lib and previous AG will pull strings.

[Paleo Conservative]

She supposedly registered at 1.2 but claims she only had a couple glasses of wine.

Sure, I bet she only weighs 85 pounds too.

[Senator_Blutarski]

According to the Dodge County sheriff's report on the arrest, Lautenschlager refused to take a test to determine her blood-alcohol level.

She was driving a state-owned car when she was arrested.

Refusing an alcohol test is an automatic DUI conviction in Wisconsin. Any bets on how the Democratic weasels get her excused from that charge?

[Arrowhead1952]

Notice how long it took for them to mention she was a Dem? If she was a Pubbie, that would have been in the first sentence, if not in the headline.

That was my first reaction to this article too. If this had been a Republican, the headline would have been something like:

(STATE Attorney General) Joe Blow Smith (R) arrested for DUI

[JohnnyZ]

I'm shocked, shocked! Too bad it's three years until she comes up again. Wisconsin Republicans should be able to take out the governor/lt and AG in '06.

[af_vet_1981]

Are you kidding?

No, it is the only logical and honorable interpretation of her statement.

In her statement, she promised to "accept the consequences of and will take responsibility for my actions."

It's not like she would continue to serve after being charged with a felony like manslaughter ...