Democrat Candidate Charged With 5 Felonies In Wisconsin
According to the results of an investigation into her campaign finances, a Democratic candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in Wisconsin is facing five criminal charges.
Milwaukee Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, who announced her Senate candidacy on July 21, was officially charged on Tuesday with embezzlement, theft by fraud, misconduct in public office, and two campaign finance crimes (intentionally filing a false report and intentionally accepting an unlawful disbursement), according to WTMJ-TV.
Between April 2016 and June 2020, the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint against Lewis, claiming that she had illegally stolen more than $20,000 from her campaign funds and municipal reimbursements for her own use, according to the source.
According to WTMJ, the lawsuit claims that the alderwoman used the money to finance at least 13 separate business and personal excursions to various locations, including three visits to Las Vegas, before fraudulently claiming reimbursements via her campaign, a practice known as “double-dipping.”
According to the investigation, Lewis also accepted campaign contribution checks into her personal bank account, after which the funds were used to pay rent, vehicle repairs, and other expenses totalling more than $16,000, according to the study.
In addition, the complaint identified 22 ATM transfer of funds that were never recorded, with a total value of more than $5,500.
“All of these behaviors were in excess of her authority and were done without consent,” the lawsuit said, adding that she had carried out these actions in “violation of trust.”
Following the allegations, Cavalier Johnson, the president of the Milwaukee Common Council, promptly withdrew Lewis from all of her committee responsibilities.
Johnson said in a press release that “Make no mistake that our judicial system presumes that every individual is considered innocent until proven guilty in court,” Johnson further stated “However, until this matter is resolved, I am moving without hesitation to protect the institution of the Milwaukee Common Council, as well as the City of Milwaukee.”
Lewis sent a statement to WTMJ in which she said that she had just been made aware of possible “campaign reporting errors” as well as “accounting errors.” she said emphatically.
In a statement, she said that as “As a public servant, faith leader, and 9/11 veteran who has served my country with pride, I have served, and will continue to serve, in elected office with transparency, integrity, and honor,” the statement read.
Given that she was a first-time candidate, the Democrat said that she and her staff tried their “very best” to conduct a good election campaign.
The alderwoman stated that after the investigation is done that she, “will be absolved,” adding that she will continue to advocate for “every working-class person” in Milwaukee.
The attorney for Ald. Lewis, Jason Luczak, told WTMJ “There is strong evidence that she had no criminal intent which is necessary whenever you charge a crime like this.
