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Scott Walker Must Demand VanderLeest Withdraw
- Thursday, Jul 14 2011
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GOP, Scott Walker Must Demand Dave VanderLeest Withdraw From Recall Race
New Child Abuse Allegations Render Candidacy Untenable
MADISON -- The Democratic Party of Wisconsin on Thursday called on Scott Walker and the Republican Party of Wisconsin to demand the immediate withdrawal of Dave VanderLeest as a candidate for the Senate after disturbing allegations of child abuse were published late Wednesday.
VanderLeest, who was deputized by Republicans to run the recall efforts against Sen. Dave Hansen, has a documented history of domestic abuse, but the new allegations appear to be part of an ongoing investigation by the Oconto County Sheriff's Department.
PolitiScoop, an advocacy website, published Wednesday an incident report in which a child tells investigators about being kicked and bruised by VanderLeest; and in which his former spouse details a pattern of abuse and drug use by VanderLeest.
VanderLeest has provided rambling and incoherent defenses of his history of abuse, placing blame on his former spouse. The new allegations center on a child's account given to investigators.
"The allegations against David VanderLeest render his candidacy untenable. He has said he will be a strong supporter of Scott Walker and the six Republican senators facing recall. Walker and these six must call on VanderLeest to resign," Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate said.