Ron Johnson politicizes Waukesha after demanding others ‘cease and desist’

After releasing a joint statement with fellow Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) asking “outside individuals or groups” who may attempt to exploit the tragedy in Waukesha, Wis. for political gain to “cease and desist,” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) returned to politicizing the tragedy in Waukesha. 

“It has come to our attention that outside individuals or groups may attempt to exploit the tragedy that occurred last Sunday in Waukesha for their own political purposes. As the U.S. Senators representing Wisconsin, one from each political party, we are asking anyone considering such action to cease and desist,” their statement said. 

They said the difficult task of a thorough investigation and fair trial “will be made even more difficult if conducted within a politically charged atmosphere.” 

On the evening of Nov. 21, Darrell Brooks plowed his SUV into the Waukesha Christmas Parade. He injured over 60 people and killed six, with victims ranging between the ages of 8 and 81.  

Johnson appeared on Todd Starnes’ podcast Tuesday to clarify he hadn’t been calling on the situation not to be politicized. “I realize there are very definite political components to the story,” Johnson said. “If it were not for the no bail and low bail policies of the political left,” this wouldn’t have happened. 

“There’s definitely a political element. I’m not saying don’t politicize this.” 

Johnson’s comments joined a growing chorus of conservative backlash against bail reform, a stance that oversimplifies the tragedy. Many legal experts say Brooks’s unusually low $1,000 bond did not come from current bail policy but rather a combination of a Milwaukee court system backlogged from the pandemic and an inexperienced court officer. 

“This was not the product of criminal justice reform or bail reform efforts, which have rightfully questioned how we use pretrial and post-conviction incarceration,” Craig Mastantuono, a criminal defense lawyer from Milwaukee, told The New York Times last week. 

On the Senate floor Wednesday, Baldwin asked for a moment of silence.  

“I think it’s simply wrong and disrespectful to the innocent lives that were taken away for anyone to play politics with this horrific tragedy. We know this is not a political issue asking for division. It is a community standing together in unity, asking for support to heal, and asking for our love and support as we move forward together,” she said.  

Fringe right-wing media outlets were incensed last Saturday after Johnson and Baldwin’s joint statement was released. Right-wing media site Media Right News called the move “baffling” and branded Johnson a “GOP TRAITOR.” 

The statement sparked a flurry anger against Johnson on Twitter. Users declared Johnson had lost their vote, wondered why he hadn’t made a similar statement regarding the Kyle Rittenhouse trial and accused him of wanting Americans to pretend the attack never happened.  

“I was one of those, Senator, I was one of those people,” Starnes said when Johnson brought up his fellow Republicans attacking the statement. 

Just days after the tragedy, Johnson had taken to radio and TV talk shows to blame Democrats. 

 “This is a result of a criminal justice system in Milwaukee that is out of control,” Johnson told Joe Donlon on News Nation’s “The Donlon Report” in a clip posted on Nov. 22. “And it’s spilling over into more law-abiding communities.” 

Donlon asked if Johnson was referring to Brooks having been on affordable bond when the attack occurred. 

“Yeah, he should have been in jail,” Johnson replied. “So, let’s face it, the Left is the political ideology that is for lawlessness. That is for no bail.” 

The day after the senators released their statement, The Dan Bongino Show ran an interview with Johnson on November 28th where the senator addressed the Waukesha tragedy again.  

“In this case, it was Darrell Brooks that should have been behind bars, he never should have been behind the wheel of that car,” Johnson said. “These people should be alive today, they should still be celebrating, what would have, should have been a joyous Christmas parade. But he’s not. And there is a political movement that is responsible for these things,” Johnson said. “It is the Left. It is the Left. There is a political movement of lawlessness, of chaos. Let’s just be honest about that.” 

“I don’t think anybody’s questioning your conservative credentials, Senator. I just don’t,” Starnes said.