WASHINGTON — President Trump named long-term supporter Brad Schimel as U.S. attorney for the Milwaukee-based Eastern Wisconsin judicial district. It’s a 120-day interim appointment, reflecting Trump’s awareness of growing dissatisfaction on Capitol Hill that makes the necessary Senate confirmation of his appointees is problematic. Trump is able to appoint and reappoint in 120-day increments without Senate confirmation. The position of U.S. attorney for Eastern Wisconsin has been occupied by a place-holder since Trump removed Biden-appointee Gregory Haanstad in January. Schimel, age 60, is a former Wisconsin attorney general and later a Waukesha County circuit judge. He was defeated by 10 points for the state Supreme Court in a November 2024. The election considered a bellwether on the Trump Administration.
Schimel. Wisconsin attorney general 2015-2018 Defeated for re-election.
Cheesehead clowning. Schimel’s moment in the national limelight was dimmed by Trump budget-cutter Elon Musk, who campaigned for him with a cheesehead schtick. The fired-up GOP campaign crowd in Green Bay loved it, but the clowning didn’t go over well statewide. Wisconsinites enjoy self-deprecation but resent outsiders who exploit cheese-headedness as a cheap I-Am-One-of-You gesture. Musk, an outsider, had put $17 million into the Schimel campaign. Schimel lost 55% to 45%.