EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – An Eau Clare man arrested for his presence at the January 6 occupation of the U.S. Capitol has moved in right-wing Republican circles in western Wisconsin for years. Levin Loftus shows up in photos of Derrick Van Orden’s campaign for Congress last fall as well as in demonstrations to recall Governor Tony Evers. Former State Senator Dave Zien, a Republican, said he’s known Loftus several years and got to know him well last summer and fall through local Trump campaign events. In an interview with television station WQOW, Zien described Loftus as a veteran and a patriotic and commendable individual with good intentions. Zien said he had spoken with Loftus by phone. “Apparently when he got there, the doors were open,” said Zien. “He said once you got up there, the crowd was so wrapped up in the magic of the moment, they were pushing, and he couldn’t have turned back if he would have wanted to.” Zien said that Loftus claimed he didn’t act maliciously or touch anything while inside the Capitol.
David Zien profile
Zien built a Vietnam war memorial near Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, for fellow Marines at the militarily strategic Rockpile monolith. He holds a master’s degree from University of Wisconsin-Stout. He was an administrator at Northcentral Technical in Wausau. He was a state legislator from 1988 to 2006. Zien is well known in Wisconsin for driving through the state on a Harley-Davidson with full-size American and Wisconsin flags. He lost part of a leg in a 2011 motorcycle accident in Florida but continued to ride, albeit on a three-wheel Harley. Also in 2011 Zien and two Tea Party members were accused f assaulting members of the Solidarity Sing Along group at the state Capitol in Madison. He was alleged to have run over group members’ belongings with hid wheelchair.
Zien. Elected to the State Assembly in 1988 and to the Wisconsin Senate in 1993. Senate president pro term 2005. Defeated for re-election 2006.