Op-Ed: Brad Schimel: Biden’s commutations are a symptom of a dangerous agenda

"President Biden’s commutations are a symptom of a broader problem: a dangerous ideology that has pervaded our justice system, one that prioritizes the feelings of criminals over justice for victims."

Across America, liberal politicians with naive, dangerous agendas are prioritizing the feelings of criminals over justice for victims and the protection of our communities. With President Donald Trump set to return to the White House in a few short days, President Joe Biden and the progressive staff around him spent their final weeks abusing the pardon and commutation powers.

Over Christmas, while his staff thought the American people were not paying attention, President Biden commuted the sentences of some of America’s most dangerous criminals. These criminals include mass murderers and child killers.

What is most troubling and inexcusable is that the Biden administration did this without even consulting, much less consoling, the victims and families who had their lives destroyed by these most shocking of crimes.

President Biden’s commutations are a symptom of a broader problem: a dangerous ideology that has pervaded our justice system, one that prioritizes the feelings of criminals over justice for victims. Last November, the American people sent a deafening message to President Biden and the politicians who have presided over the downfall of our justice system: “enough.”

Inspired by the spirit of the American people’s repudiation of lawlessness, I am running for Wisconsin’s Supreme Court to stop the madness.

Throughout my career as a prosecutor, Attorney General, and judge, I tackled every type of serious crime, from elder abuse to child abuse, human trafficking to homicide, and sexual assault to public corruption, always putting victims first. For me, delivering justice for victims is not only a priority; it’s my calling.

As a district attorney, I witnessed the most gruesome and violent crimes. From the crime scene to the courtroom, I worked with law enforcement and the victim’s families to deliver justice.

As the state’s Attorney General, I overhauled broken and outdated government procedures and implemented significant reforms aimed at combating drug abuse, threats to children’s safety, elder abuse, and sex trafficking. Notably, I worked with law enforcement and victim advocates to launch the Wisconsin Human Trafficking Bureau, revolutionizing and strengthening the state’s response to the human trafficking crisis.

While I have endorsements from over 50 active Wisconsin Sheriffs, my opponent, like Joe Biden, subscribes to a radical ideology. While leading our state’s Department of Corrections, she pushed for early release of dangerous criminals. As a judge, she’s put sexual predators back onto our streets who now live near schools. My opponent is actively playing politics with the victims of heinous crimes, lying about my efforts to protect the vulnerable.

My opponent has a dangerously liberal agenda with real-life consequences. An attorney who spent a large part of her career suing Wisconsin, she led the effort to repeal Wisconsin’s voter ID law. It’s clear why the current liberal majority endorsed her just hours after she entered this race. The current majority of Wisconsin’s Supreme Court has made a mockery of objectivity, ushering in a partisan agenda that struck down Wisconsin’s legislative districts, made it easier to tax churches, and made Wisconsin’s elections less secure. My only agenda is to restore respect, humility, and objectivity to our state’s highest court and protect Wisconsin families.

The American people have had enough of lawlessness and partisan agendas that have made their communities less safe. As America turns the page nationally, we must not become complacent and lose sight of what is at stake in our own state justice system.

This spring, Wisconsinites have a choice between lawlessness or order. I am the only candidate who will stop the madness and restore integrity in our justice system.

Brad Schimel is a career prosecutor who served as Waukesha County District Attorney and Wisconsin Attorney General before becoming a Circuit Court Judge, the office he currently holds.

As Wisconsin's Attorney General, Schimel worked with former Governor Scott Walker to accomplish and uphold significant conservative reforms, including the state's voter ID law.

As a prosecutor, Schimel prosecuted a wide range of serious crimes, including elder abuse, human trafficking, homicide, sexual assault, internet crimes against children, and public corruption. He also handled one of the nation's first sextortion cases.