Former Wisconsin Senate Chief Clerk Resigns Amid Sexual Misconduct Investigation

In a significant development, Michael Queensland, the former chief clerk of the Wisconsin Senate, has stepped down from his position following a sexual misconduct investigation. The investigator's report, released on Tuesday, sheds light on the circumstances surrounding his resignation.

Queensland made a quiet exit from his Senate post in September. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, in a concise two-sentence statement, had mentioned Queensland's departure was prompted by a "credible allegation." Notably, LeMahieu did not disclose the specific nature of the allegations, despite Queensland's denial of any wrongdoing.

The Legislature's human resources office released a report on Tuesday from investigator Susan Lessack, an employment attorney. Lessack's investigation began after someone alerted the state Senate in late August regarding allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment involving Queensland.

During the course of her inquiry, Lessack interviewed a woman referred to as Jane Doe, who was employed in a legislative clerk's office in another state. Jane Doe recounted meeting Queensland during a legislative conference held in Palm Springs, California.

According to Jane Doe's account in the report, on the evening of May 6, she and Queensland consumed alcohol, and she later passed out upon returning to her hotel room. She reported regaining consciousness to find Queensland attempting to remove her pants and underwear while being on top of her. She repeatedly told him to stop and emphasized his marital status before pushing him away. Queensland subsequently left.

In his response to the investigator, Queensland claimed that the encounter was consensual, as reported in the investigation.

Lessack, after thorough consideration of the evidence, concluded that there was substantial support for the woman's allegations. She believed Queensland's statements had a rehearsed quality. Moreover, the woman had informed Queensland an hour prior to the incident that she had no interest in a married man due to her strong disapproval of infidelity, which should have clearly conveyed her unwillingness to entertain any sexual advances.

It's important to note that Queensland resigned from his position after being interviewed by Lessack, even before the investigation concluded. The report itself is dated as of Monday.

At present, Queensland has not responded to inquiries from The Associated Press regarding these developments, and attempts to reach him by phone have been unsuccessful. The report mentions that an attorney represented Queensland during the interview, though the lawyer's identity remains undisclosed. Furthermore, there are no records of any charges against Queensland in Wisconsin at this time.

The role of the Senate chief clerk is a non-partisan one, responsible for various administrative tasks within the chamber. This includes duties such as announcing bills during floor sessions, managing the Senate's finances, and maintaining records. Queensland had held this position since January 2021, following his previous role as an attorney with the Legislative Council, where he provided lawmakers with advice on statutory interpretations and bill phrasing.

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