Commissioner appointed to investigate charges against Eau Claire district attorney

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Gov. Tony Evers has appointed a commissioner to investigate charges brought against Eau Claire County District Attorney Gary King.

King, who’s been the Eau Claire County district attorney since 2012, is faced with allegations of sexual harassment and being drunk at work. A report provided to Eau Claire TV news station WQOW detailed a number of the alleged instances of harassment of women at the office and being intoxicated in the courthouse.

A press release from Evers’ office said the governor received written, verified charges from a county taxpayer against King on June 3. Evers decided to appoint William Ramsey, deputy chief legal counsel at the Wisconsin Department of Administration, to conduct an investigation into and hearing about King’s alleged misconduct.

Ramsey will schedule a date for the public hearing after conferring with relevant parties, according to Evers’ office, and then report his findings from the hearing to the governor. Evers will then make a determination as to whether there is just cause to remove King from office. Chapter 17 of state statute gives the governor this power. Follow @WLJReporter