Letter: Wis. DA invited woman to date at autopsy

[marieelissa]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Jim Doyle's office has made public a letter from a woman who says a Wisconsin prosecutor shared confidential information about a case with her and invited her on a date to an autopsy.

Calumet County District Attorney Ken Kratz has already come under fire for sending sexually-harassing text messages to a domestic abuse victim.

Doyle said Monday the allegations in the letter his office received last week are troubling and "unimaginable" conduct by a district attorney. His office redacted the name of the woman who complained.

In the letter, the woman says Kratz shared with her confidential details about a case and invited her to a woman's autopsy "provided I would be his girlfriend and would wear high heels and a skirt."

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin's governor says he'll start the process to remove a prosecutor caught sending sexually-harassing text messages to a domestic abuse victim as soon as he gets a proper complaint.

At a news conference Monday in Madison, Wis., Gov. Jim Doyle said he was appalled by Calumet County District Attorney Ken Kratz's behavior. He says he first needs to get a "verified complaint" from a taxpayer in Calumet County. The abuse victim does not live in that county.

Kratz has acknowledged sending 30 text messages in three days last year to a woman while he was prosecuting her ex-boyfriend in an abuse case. He apologized and went on medical leave but has refused to resign.

Wisconsin governors have the power to remove county officials like Kratz for cause.