>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> FRIENDS, WE CAN DO IT!
>> FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
REBECCA KLEEFISCH TESTS POSITIVE
FOR COVID-19 SHORTLY AFTER HER
ANNOUNCEMENT TO RUN FOR
GOVERNOR.
NOW, POST QUARANTINE AND WITH A
NEGATIVE TEST, SHE'S BACK ON THE
CAMPAIGN TRAIL.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A
CONVERSATION WITH REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR, REBECCA
KLEEFISCH.
MURV SEYMOUR TELLS THE STORY OF
REDEMPTION AFTER A PARDON FROM
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS.
THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM A MILWAUKEE
ATTORNEY WHO GIVES LEGAL HELP
SEEKING THE FORGIVENESS OF
PARDONS.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
OCTOBER 1.
>> FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY THE
FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND
FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.
>> FIRST UP TONIGHT, FORMER
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR REBECCA
KLEEFISCH TAKES A BREAK FROM HER
CAMPAIGN TO JOIN US.
KLEEFISCH SERVED AS SCOTT
WALKER'S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
DURING HIS TWO TERMS IN OFFICE
BETWEEN 2011 AND 2019.
BEFORE THAT, KLEEFISCH WORKED AS
A TELEVISION NEWS REPORTER AND
ANCHOR IN ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS AND
THEN MILWAUKEE.
MORE RECENTLY, SHE SERVED AS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
WISCONSIN SUFFRAGE CENTENNIAL
COMMISSION IN 2019.
WHEN REBECCA KLEEFISCH JOINED US
EARLIER, I STARTED BY ASKING HER
ABOUT HER RECENT COVID-19
BREAKTHROUGH INFECTION.
>> HOW ARE YOU FEELING NOW?
>> I'M FINE.
THANK YOU FOR ASKING, BUT IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN YOU
HEAR ABOUT CASES LIKE MINE THAT
WE ARE REMINDED THAT EVERYBODY'S
BODY TREATS THIS REALLY
DIFFERENTLY.
AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS FINE BUT
THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
ARE REALLY SUFFERING WITH
COVID-19.
AND SO WE CONTINUE TO URGE
PEOPLE TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF
THEMSELVES AND ALSO EVERYBODY
JUST HAVE AN EXTRA MEASURE OF
PATIENCE AND GRACE FOR FOLKS WHO
WANT TO PROTECT THEMSELVES OR
WANT TO TAKE EXTRA MEASURES OR,
YOU KNOW, WANT TO HAVE FREEDOM,
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY.
EVERYBODY TREATS THIS VERY
DIFFERENTLY AND EVERYBODY'S BODY
TREATS THIS VERY DIFFERENTLY.
>> IN FACT, YOU SAY YOU WANT TO,
QUOTE, ENSURE ROBUST PROTECTION
FOR CONSCIENCE IN A PANDEMIC.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> THAT MEANS WE WANT TO PROTECT
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY AND WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT GOVERNMENT IS
NOT DICTATING HEALTH CARE
DECISIONS WHEN IT COMES TO THE
CONSTITUTION.
>> SO SHOULD PEOPLE TAKE
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST PRIMARY OR
BREAKTHROUGH CASES BY MASKING
INDOORS OR IN SCHOOLS, FOR
EXAMPLE?
AS GOVERNOR, HOW WOULD YOU KEEP
PEOPLE SAFE?
>> WELL, I WOULD MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE WERE WELL AWARE OF THE
FACTS.
AND THE FACTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED
OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.
WE KNOW THAT THE DELTA VARIANT
IS BRAND NEW AND IT'S A
BREAKTHROUGH VARIANT.
I WAS VACCINATED.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
ARE DEALING WITH COVID DIAGNOSES
EVEN AFTER BEING VACCINATED.
AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE WITH
GOOD HYGIENE PRACTICES, HAND
WASHING, MAKING SURE WE STAY
DISTANT FROM PEOPLE WE DON'T
KNOW.
IF YOU'RE SICK, MAKE SURE YOU
STAY HOME FROM WORK OR SCHOOL.
WE IN AMERICA, WE IN WISCONSIN
TEND TO BELIEVE THAT WORKING
HARD AND WORKING THROUGH
SICKNESS IS PROVING GROUND FOR
GREAT WORK ETHIC.
UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES IT'S
JUST NOT SMART.
WE ALSO NEED TO RESPECT PEOPLE'S
INDIVIDUAL CHOICES.
IF SOMEONE WANTS TO WEAR A MASK
AND HAS MADE A DECISION THAT
THAT'S THE RIGHT HEALTH CARE
CHOICE FOR THEM, THEN WE WOULD
RESPECT IT AND NOT MAKE FOLKS
FEEL SHAMED.
WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON
IN PEOPLE'S PERSONAL LIVES AND
WHAT THEIR PERSONAL CHOICES MAY
BE BASED ON CONVERSATIONS
THEY'VE HAD WITH THEIR FAMILIES
OR MAYBE THEIR DOCTORS.
>> NOW, YOU SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP
AND CALL HIM, QUOTE, ONE OF THE
MOST SUCCESSFUL POLICY
PRESIDENTS OF OUR TIME, ONE OF
THE MOST PRO-LIFE PRESIDENTS
EVER.
DO YOU SUPPORT HIS CONTINUED
CHARGES THAT THE 2020 ELECTION
WAS STOLEN, THAT IN FACT JOE
BIDEN DID NOT WIN?
>> FREDERICA, I HAVE SAID MANY
TIMES THAT JOE BIDEN IS THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
HOWEVER, I DO THINK THERE SHOULD
BE A FULL INVESTIGATION OF WHAT
HAPPENED IN WISCONSIN IN 2020
BECAUSE WE ARE RISKING PEOPLE
WALKING AWAY FROM THE ELECTORAL
PROCESS COMPLETELY BECAUSE THEY
DON'T FEEL LIKE THEIR VOTE
COUNTS.
SO WE NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM
OF IT AND REASSURE FOLKS THAT
WALKING AWAY FROM OUR DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC, OUR ELECTION PROCESS,
IS NOT THE WAY WE HANDLE THINGS.
THAT IN FACT WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE COMPLETELY
FRANCHISED, THAT THEY GO AND
THEY VOTE AND THEY VOTE
PASSIONATELY TO KEEP THIS
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC GOING.
>> SO YOU SUPPORT THESE
INVESTIGATIONS IN WISCONSIN,
EVEN IN THE FACE OF COURT
CHALLENGES THAT FAILED ON THE
PART OF DONALD TRUMP AND
RECOUNTS?
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
EVERYONE VOTE.
AND I THINK THE CONCERN WE HAVE
IS PEOPLE DISENFRANCHISE PEOPLE
THEY DON'T BELIEVE THEIR VOTE
COUNTS OR THEY BELIEVE SOME
SUSPICION ACTIVITY WENT DOWN IN
NOVEMBER OF 2020.
WE NEED TO ASSURE PEOPLE THAT WE
HAVE GOTTEN TO THE BOTTOM OF
2020 SO THAT THEY CAN REST
ASSURED THAT THEIR VOTE IS
SECURE AND COUNTS.
IN WISCONSIN, WE NEED TO MAKE IT
EASY TO VOTE, BUT WE ALSO NEED
TO MAKE IT HARD TO CHEAT AND WE
NEED TO GIVE PEOPLE ASSURANCES
THAT THEIR VOTE MATTERS.
>> SHIFTING GEARS A LITTLE BIT,
AS TO YOUR LAST ELECTION AND THE
PROMISED JOBS AT FOXCONN, WHAT'S
YOUR RESPONSE TO THE COMPANY NOT
DELIVERING ON THOSE?
>> I'M DISAPPOINTED.
I'M DISAPPOINTED THE SAME AS
ANYONE ACROSS WISCONSIN WHO HAD
HIGH HOPES FOR 13,000 JOBS
DELIVERED NEARLY RIGHT AWAY.
BUT I WILL SAY THAT OUR JOBS TAX
CREDITS WERE NEVER DELIVERED
BECAUSE THE BAR WAS SET
EXTREMELY HIGH IN THE WALKER
ADMINISTRATION.
TONY EVERS, THIS IS NOT THE
FIRST TIME TONY EVERS HAS
LOWERED THE BAR.
BUT MY HOPE IS THAT WE WILL
STILL SEE TREMENDOUS JOB
CREATION BECAUSE OF SOME
INVESTMENTS THAT WERE MADE IN
INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> OKAY.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
WE ARE AT TIME, BUT I TRUST THAT
WE WILL BE SPEAKING WITH YOU
MORE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NO DOUBT.
THANK YOU.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS SAYS
POLITICAL RISK OR NOT, HE
BELIEVES IN SECOND CHANCES
THROUGH PROVIDING PARDONS.
HE HAS GRANTED HUNDREDS OF THEM
SINCE TAKING OFFICE.
EARLIER THIS MONTH, HE SIGNED AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WILL SPEED
UP THE PROCESS OF GETTING A
PARDON IN NONVIOLENT CASES.
"HERE AND NOW" SPECIAL PROJECTS
JOURNALIST MURV SEYMOUR HAS THIS
REPORT ON ONE MAN'S JOURNEY TO
RECEIVE A GOVERNOR'S PARDON AND
ITS PROFOUND IMPACT ON HIS LIFE.
>> YOU HAVE TO DO MORE THAN JUST
SAY WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY DO IT.
>> ANTHONY COOPER LIVES TO HELP
OTHERS.
HE COACHES FORMER PRISON INMATES
ABOUT THE OUTSIDE WORLD THROUGH
THE NEHEMIAH REENTER SERVICES
PROGRAM OUT OF A TINY OFFICE ON
MADISON'S SOUTH SIDE.
>> THE WORK WITH NONVIOLENT
CRIMES THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
>> FOCUS INTERRUPTION LOOKS FOR
REDUCED TRAUMA FROM GUN VIOLENCE
TO PEOPLE IN DANE COUNTY
IMPACTED THE MOST.
<!3276
>> GO AND PROVIDE STRATEGIST AND
BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORTS TO
FAMILIES IN THE MOMENT.
>> IN THE COMMUNITY, ANTHONY IS
A LEADER.
HE'S THE 2019 RECIPIENT OF THE
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
HUMANITARIAN AWARD, GIVEN TO
THOSE WHO SERVE IN THE SPIRIT OF
DR. KING.
>> GROWING UP ON THE NORTH SIDE
OF CHICAGO, I THINK WHERE WE
LIVED WE HAD A VILLAGE.
MADISON IS MY VILLAGE.
BECAUSE OF THAT, I KNOW HOW TO
ACT AS A VILLAGE.
I WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT I
WOULD BE AT WHERE I'M AT NOW.
>> WHERE HE IS NOW COMES AS A
SURPRISE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER
WHERE HE'S BEEN.
>> THERE'S AN OLD SAYING IF I
KNEW WHAT I KNOW NOW BACK THEN,
WHO WOULD I BE?
[SIRENS]
>> BACK THEN, IN THE LATE
'90s, ANTHONY COOPER WAS A
DIFFERENT MAN.
>> WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOW I
NAVIGATED LIFE, THERE WAS
DEFINITELY SOME THINGS THAT I
WISH I COULD HAVE DONE
DIFFERENTLY.
I WAS A MAN-CHILD.
EVEN BEING A MAN IN AGE, AS I
WAS STILL CHILD LIKE QUALITIES I
HAD AS WELL.
I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT.
I WASN'T ABLE TO PROVIDE THE WAY
I WOULD HAVE WANTED, TO PROVIDE
FOR MY KIDS.
I DIDN'T SEE THE LIGHT.
I DIDN'T SEE THAT IT WAS
POSSIBLE TO BE ABLE TO GET A
FUNCTIONING JOB TO BE ABLE TO
HAVE A FUNCTIONING FAMILY.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW
THIS, BUT I THOUGHT ABOUT BEING
A NURSE.
>> GETTING INTO I.T.
[SIRENS]
>> I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A
FIREMAN.
THAT WAS MY IDEAL JOB.
I WOULD HAVE BEEN THE BEST
WAREHOUSE WORKER.
I WOULD EVENTUALLY HAVE MOVED UP
TO BECOME A SUPERVISOR OF SOME
SORT.
>> WITH ALL OF THOSE OPTIONS,
EVENTUALLY HE TOOK AN UNEXPECTED
ROUTE TO QUICK CASH.
>> HOW HARD IS IT TO GET OUT
THERE ON A BLOCK AND, YOU KNOW,
IF YOU KNOW THE RIGHT PEOPLE, TO
GO AND SELL DRUGS?
>> ANTHONY BECAME A HUSTLING
DRUG DEALER ON THE STREETS OF
MADISON.
>> THAT W THOSE WERE SOME OF MYT
DAYS.
I'M TRYING TO FIND A BETTER JOB.
>> ACCORDING TO POLICE, IN
FEBRUARY OF 1999 HE SOLD HEROIN
TO A CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANT IN
THIS PARKING LOT OUTSIDE AN EAST
SIDE MADISON RESTAURANT AND
SEVERAL OTHER LOCATIONS
INCLUDING A LOCAL PART.
>> DAYS LATER HE LED POLICE ON A
SHORT CAR CHASE THROUGH DOWNTOWN
DURING RUSH HOUR BEFORE BEING
ARRESTED.
>> MY MOTHER DIDN'T RAISE ME TO
SELL DRUGS.
MY MOM GAVE US ALL SHE COULD.
>> AT THE TIME HE FELT SELLING
DRUGS WAS HIS ONLY OPTION TO
PROVIDE FOR HIS MOTHER, SON AND
HIS THEN PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND.
>> I CAN GET A JOB, BUT IF THAT
JOB IS STILL LEAVING ME
STRUGGLING, I KNOW AT THE SAME
TIME IF MY PAGER, PHONE OR
WHATEVER, EVERY TIME THEY CALL,
IT'S $20, $50 HERE, $100 HERE.
EVENTUALLY THAT GREW.
THEN WHAT HAPPENS.
1999 WHEN I WAS 22 YEARS OLD I
WAS CONVICTED OF THREE FELONIES.
>> HE READS HIS OWN WRITTEN
WORDS ABOUT WHAT HIS
DRUG-SELLING DAYS CAME TO AN
END.
>> THE THINGS I'M WRITING I
ISN'T WRITING FOR YOU ALL, BUT
FOR ME.
I'LL ALWAYS HAVE THAT MEMORY.
>> HE SOMETIMES WONDERED IF
GETTING CAUGHT MAY HAVE SAVED
HIS LIFE.
>> I COULD HAVE GOT CAUGHT WITH
MORE THAN WHAT I HAD.
I COULD HAVE GOT KILLED.
MY SON GROWING UP WITHOUT A
FATHER.
MY MOM GROWING UP WITHOUT -- YOU
KNOW, AS SHE'S GETTING OLDER,
NOT HAVING A SON.
MY SISTERS NOT HAVING A BROTHER.
>> AFTER PLEADING GUILTY HE DID
TWO YEARS IN STATE PRISON IN
PORTAGE, BLACK RIVER FALLS AND
BOOT CAMP IN NEW RICHMOND.
>> NOTHING ABOUT PRISON I LIKED.
>> SOMEONE IS INCARCERATED, IT
DOESN'T JUST AFFECT YOU.
IT AFFECTS EVERYONE THAT'S
CONNECTED TO YOU.
>> WHEN THEY CALLED MY NAME TO
BE ABLE TO GO TO BOOT CAMP.
THAT'S THE HOPE FOR ME TO BE
ABLE TO GO TO BOOT CAMP AND
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE IT.
>> FRESH OUT OF PRISON, ANTHONY
SAYS HE FOUND HIMSELF FRESH OUT
OF LUCK IN FINDING A GOOD-PAYING
JOB.
HE WOULD SETTLE FOR A GIG MAKING
PIZZAS, HONORABLE WORK, BUT IN
HIS WORDS IT DIDN'T PAY ENOUGH
TO FEED HIS FAMILY.
>> WHEN I CAME HOME, I KNEW I
WASN'T GOING TO SELL PIZZAS ALL
OF MY LIFE.
>> HE SAYS HE FOUGHT
TEMPTATIONS.
>> THE THOUGHTS ARE STILL THERE.
>> TO GO BACK TO THE CROOKED
LIFESTYLE THAT LANDED HIM IN
PRISON.
>> THE THOUGHT WAS STILL THERE.
I NEVER WANTED MY SONS TO COME
BACK IN PRISON, TO PRISON TO SAY
-- YOU KNOW, TO COME AND VISIT
ME THERE.
IF I ALLOWED THEM TO CONTINUE TO
SEE ME GO FORTH AND FORTH IN
PRISON, EVENTUALLY THAT'S GOING
TO BECOME NORMAL FOR THEM AND
EVENTUALLY THEY'LL FOLLOW THE
SAME ROUTE.
>> HE QUICKLY LEARNED HIS STATUS
AS A FELON CRIPPLED HIS
OPPORTUNITIES FOR A BETTER LIFE.
>> FROM HOUSING, LOANS,
GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES, GRANTS.
YOU'RE STILL LOOKED AT AS LESS
THAN.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THIS TO ME ABOUT
MY BACKGROUND EVEN THOUGH IT'S
SO MANY YEARS.
IT'S ALMOST A RESTART ON LIFE, A
RESTART OF ME TRYING TO EXPLAIN
AND TRYING TO CONVINCE PEOPLE
THAT, HEY, THAT'S -- WHO I WAS
AT 19, 20, 21, 22 IS NOT THE
SAME PERSON WHO I AM TODAY.
>> NOW, ALMOST 20 YEARS OUT OF
PRISON.
>> NONE OF US KNEW ANYONE THAT
HAD A PARDON.
>> ANTHONY WENT ALL THE WAY TO
THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SEEKING
FORGIVENESS AND A PARDON FROM
THE GOVERNOR AND HIS ADVISORY
BOARD.
>> THEY ALL KNEW THE CHANGE THAT
WAS WITHIN ME.
WHEN I WAS ARRESTED, THAT WAS IN
1999.
>> HE WROTE THE WORDS HE READ
EARLIER IN 2019 AS PART OF HIS
APPLICATION TO THE BOARD.
>> THERE'S PEOPLE I KNEW FROM
THE STREETS SAY THE SAME THING.
WE'RE JUST PROUD OF YOU, WHO
YOU'VE BECOME.
>> WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE REACH OUT TO
THE VICTIMS.
>> FORMER MADISON POLICE CHIEF
NOBLE WRAY IS PART OF THE BOARD.
>> WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE
DURING COVID THAT HAVE PRESENTED
SOME VERY COMPELLING CASES.
>> YOU'RE WATCHING WISCONSIN
EYE.
>> BECAUSE OF COVID, WE HAD TO
DO IT VIRTUAL.
BUT NOW IT'S ABOUT WHAT HAVE YOU
DONE TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE AROUND?
WHO ARE YOU NOW THAT YOU WERE
NOT 20 YEARS AGO, 15 YEARS AGO,
SEVEN YEARS AGO?
>> ANTHONY COOPER'S CASE WAS ONE
OF MANY BROUGHT BEFORE THE
BOARD.
>> THE THEY ARE IMPACTED BY THER
EMPLOYMENT.
THEY'RE IMPACTED BY WHERE THEY
CAN LIVE AND CANNOT LIVE.
THERE ARE LIMITATIONS PLACED ON
YOU IF YOU HAVE A FELONY TO BE
ABLE TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE
COUNTRY.
>> CAN YOU OPEN A CHILD CARE
CENTER?
CAN YOU CARE FOR PEOPLE?
YOU CAN TAKE AN 18-YEAR-OLD IN
NORTHERN WISCONSIN THAT DECIDED
TO DRIVE THROUGH A CORNFIELD
BASED UPON THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE
THAT THEY CREATE, THAT WAS A
FELONY.
BUT THEY'RE 18 AND 19 YEARS OLD.
AND THEY WALK INTO A PARDON
BOARD AND THEY'RE 55 OR 56 AND
THEY LOOK YOU IN THE EYE AND
SAY, HEY, ALL I WANT TO DO IS BE
ABLE TO TELL PEOPLE AROUND ME
THAT I'M NOT A FELON.
>> TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A
GOVERNOR'S PARDON, YOU HAVE TO
BE A CONVICTED FELON WHO'S
COMPLETED ALL OF YOUR SENTENCES
AT LEAST FIVE YEARS AGO AND
CANNOT HAVE ANY PENDING CRIMINAL
CHARGES.
REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS ARE NOT
ELIGIBLE.
WHILE THE BOARD MAKES THE
RECOMMENDATIONS...
>> ALL THAT IS ABOUT CORRECTIONS
ISN'T ABOUT PUNISHMENT.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS HAS THE
FINAL SAY.
>> IT'S ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE
READY TO REENTER LIFE OUTSIDE OF
CORRECTIONS.
I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT
BELIEVE IN REDEMPTION.
BOTH MY PARENTS WERE IN THE
MEDICAL FIELD, AND THEY SPENT
THEIR LIVES TRYING TO GIVE
PEOPLE SECOND CHANCES
PHYSICALLY.
THIS IS A WAY TO GIVE SECOND
PEOPLE CHANCES SPIRITUALLY.
WE HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR
PRISON RIGHT NOW, AND WHATEVER I
CAN DO TO HELP THOSE THAT HAVE
EXITED THE SYSTEM AND ARE DOING
WELL IN THEIR LIVES, RECOGNIZING
THAT.
>> SO FAR IN JUST OVER TWO YEARS
IN OFFICE, MOST RECENT NUMBERS
SHOW GOVERNOR EVERS IS GRANTING
MORE PARDONS EACH YEAR.
262 OUT OF OVER 1300 APPLICANTS
AND COUNTING THROUGH AUGUST,
ONLY DENYING 1% OF THE TIME.
>> IF REELECTED, HE SAYS HE WILL
CONTINUE APPROVING PARDONS.
HIS PREDECESSOR, SCOTT WALKER,
DIDN'T DELIVER A SINGLE ONE IN
HIS EIGHT YEARS AS GOVERNOR.
>> THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
DIDN'T GET THAT CHANCE FOR MANY,
MANY YEARS.
I REVIEW EVERY SINGLE ONE THAT'S
RECOMMENDED TO ME.
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST
HEARTWARMING EXERCISES I GO
THROUGH AS GOVERNOR.
MANY OF THEM FRANKLY ARE PEOPLE
THAT THESE CRIMES WERE COMMITTED
20, 30, 40 YEARS AGO AND THEY'VE
BEEN CLEAN FOR 20, 30, 40 YEARS.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO THROW ANYBODY
AWAY.
I HAVE NO DOUBT AT SOME POINT IN
TIME SOMEBODY WILL GOOF UP.
THERE ARE PEOPLE EVERY DAY IN
THIS STATE THAT MAKE MISTAKES
THAT MAY END UP BEING A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY I FEEL
CONFIDENT THAT 99% AND 49/100THS
PERCENT ARE THE RIGHT DECISIONS.
>> MORE THAN TWO YEARS AFTER
SUBMITTING HIS APPLICATION, ON
FEBRUARY 23, 2021 ANTHONY COOPER
GETS NEWS HE'S BEEN WAITING ON.
>> THAT WAS THE SCARY PART FOR
ME.
>> HE RECEIVES HIS PARDON.
>> IT HAPPENED ON THE DAY OF MY
SON'S BIRTH.
I WAS A BALL OF EMOTIONS.
THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNOR AGAIN
IS SAYING, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT,
LET'S GIVE THIS PERSON A NEW
START IN LIFE, RIGHT?
THAT'S -- THAT'S HUGE.
>> IF YOU CAN THINK OF YOURSELF
AS SOMEONE RIGHT NOW THAT
COMMITTED A FELONY AND YOU'RE
ASKING YOURSELF WILL I EVER BE
ABLE TO CONNECT BACK WITH
SOCIETY AND FEEL LIKE A WHOLE
CITIZEN, A WISCONSINITE, IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN, WHEN YOU SEE
SOMEONE LIKE ANTHONY COOPER, HE
PROVIDES THAT NORTH STAR.
>> HE IS HARDLY THE ONLY ONE.
THINK ABOUT THAT.
SOMEBODY THAT WAS JUST, YOU
KNOW, IN SUCH A BAD PLACE THAT
THEY ENDED UP BEING INCARCERATED
BECAUSE OF USE AND BUYING AND
SELLING.
AND NOW THEY'RE ONE OF THE
LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
>> PEOPLE ARE APPLYING FOR THIS
BECAUSE THEY FEEL, A, THEY
DESERVE IT.
B, THEY THINK THAT THEY CAN BE
ROLE MODELS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND, C, THEY FEEL THAT IT CAN
HEAL WOUNDS IN THEIR FAMILY.
>> MY KIDS ARE MY ANGELS, HANDS
DOWN.
THERE'S NO IF, AND, BUTS ABOUT
THAT.
MY KIDS ARE WHAT MADE ME CHANGE.
I HAD TO BE ABLE TO SAY WHEN I
LOOK BACK I CAN TELL MY SONS I
LOVE SOMETHING MORE THAN I LOVE
MYSELF.
>> WE NEED MORE ANTHONY COOPERS.
PEOPLE KNOW HIM.
THEY SEE HIM.
AND THEY'LL LOOK AT HIM AND SAY
IF ANTHONY CAN DO IT, I CAN DO
IT.
>> REPORTING FOR "HERE AND NOW,"
I'M MURV SEYMOUR.
>> THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAYS NO
PARDON RECIPIENT HAS REOFFENDED
IN THE THREE YEARS SINCE
GOVERNOR EVERS BEGAN GRANTING
THOSE PARDONS.
THIS REPORTING IS PART OF A PBS
WISCONSIN-WPR-WISCONTEXT
COLLABORATION UTILIZING
REPORTING, RESEARCH AND
COMMUNITY-BASED EXPERTISE TO
PROVIDE INFORMATION AND INSIGHT
ABOUT ISSUES THAT AFFECT
WISCONSIN.
INCLUDED IN THE COVERAGE WE ALSO
HEAR FROM AN ATTORNEY DOING
CLEMENCY WORK ON THE GROUND.
MEGAN MORRISEY IS THE
COORDINATOR OF THE EXPUNGEMENT
PARDON CLINIC, A JOINT PROJECT
BETWEEN MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY LAW
SCHOOL AND THE MILWAUKEE BAR
ASSOCIATION.
WE SAT DOWN WITH HER THIS WEEK
AND ASKED HER THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE TWO.
>> ALTHOUGH PARDONS GO TO
FELONIES, EXPUNGEMENT CAN GO TO
THE LOWER LEVEL FELONIES, CLASS
H, CLASS I, SO FORGERY, UTTERING
AND LOWER LEVEL DRUG OFFENSES
ARE ELIGIBLE.
WHAT EXPUNGEMENT ACTUALLY DOES,
LET'S SAY ALL THINGS ARE IN THE
POSITIVE AND HAVE GONE REALLY
WELL FOR AN INDIVIDUAL.
THAT CONVICTION, IT'S STILL
THERE.
IT DOESN'T VACATE THE
CONVICTION.
SIMILARLY WITH PARDON.
PARDON DOESN'T VACATE THE
CONVICTION.
BUT EXPUNGEMENT TAKES IT OFF OF
CCAP.
IT ALSO SEALS THE RECORD.
PHYSICALLY CEILING THE FILE IN G
THE FILE SO NOBODY CAN READ WHAT
THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT SAYS.
IT SEALS IT FROM PUBLIC VIEW.
SO THAT'S WHAT EXPUNGEMENT DOES.
PARDON, ON THE OTHER HAND, ONLY
APPLIES TO FELONIES.
A PARDON DOES NOT TAKE IT OFF OF
CCAP.
SO A PARDON WILL STILL BE
VIEWABLE BY INDIVIDUALS ON CCAP,
BUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS CCAP
WILL PUT UP A POP-UP THAT STATES
THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS GRANTED
A PARDON BY THE GOVERNOR WHICH
EXTENDS FORGIVENESS AND ALSO
REINSTATES THE INDIVIDUAL'S
CIVIL RIGHTS AND SOME
PRIVILEGES.
BUT, AGAIN, IT DOESN'T VACATE OR
ACTUALLY TAKE AWAY THAT
CONVICTION.
>> THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH THE
COORDINATOR OF THE EXPUNGEMENT
PARDON CLINIC CAN BE SEEN ONLINE
ON THE pbswisconsin.org NEWS
PAGE ON MONDAY.
YOU'LL ALSO SEE ADDITIONAL
REPORTING, INCLUDING FROM
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO ON THE
ISSUE OF EXECUTIVE PARDONS.
AGAIN, LOOK FOR THAT WISCONTEXT
COLLABORATIVE REPORTING PROJECT
MONDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 4, ON
THE PBS WISCONSIN AND WPR WEB
PAGES.
BUT TONIGHT, OCTOBER 1, SEES US
BIDDING A FOND FAREWELL.
"HERE AND NOW" SERIES ELECTION
AND DEBATE SENIOR PRODUCER ANDY
MOORE IS HANGING UP HIS HEAD
FOEHNS.
HE RETIRES FROM PBS WISCONSIN
TAKING HIS WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE
OUT THE DOOR.
ANDY HAS BEEN BEHIND THE NEWS
AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMMING
YOU'VE SEEN ON OUR AIR
THROUGHOUT.
WHETHER EVENTS HAVE BEEN ROUTINE
OR RAGING, HE'S SEEN IT ALL,
BROUGHT HIS TOPNOTCH EDITORIAL
JUDGMENT AND DELIVERED TO
VIEWERS WITH HIS SPECIAL BRAND
OF SENSIBILITY FOR WHAT MATTERS
AND WHY.
>> ANDY STARTED AT WISCONSIN
PUBLIC TELEVISION IN 1987, AS A
PRODUCER OF "WISCONSIN WEEK," A
WEEKLY PROGRAM THAT EXAMINED
STATEWIDE POLICIES AND WAS COA
ANCHOANCHORED BY DAVE IVERSON AE
SMITH.
THE LIVE PROGRAM "WEEKEND"
DEBUTED IN OCTOBER OF 1991.
>> WE'RE JOINED NOW BY ANDY
MOORE, LONG-TIME PRODUCER AND
HIS DAUGHTER, MAGGIE MOORE.
>> I WANTED MAGGIE TO BE ON TV.
I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WE'VE BEEN
ON THE AIR FOR 11 YEARS.
I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT 11
YEARS LOOKS LIKE.
>> ALWAYS ONE TO INCLUDE A
LITTLE WHIMSY IN THE
LONG-RUNNING SHOW, ANDY HELPED
ILLUSTRATE A DRY AND BORING
POLICY ABOUT PROPERTY TAX WHILE
DONNING RAIN GEAR.
>> LET'S ASSUME FOR A MOMENT
ANDY IS THE AVERAGE TAXPAYER UP
IN DOOR COUNTY.
HE FISHES FOR A LIVING.
>> HE WAS NOT AFRAID TO TACKLE
THE HARD STORIES.
>> FROM THE WEEKEND EYE TEAM,
CHIEF COR CORRESPONDENT ANDY MO.
THIS IS AN EXCLUSIVE REPORT,
WHITEWATER, THE INSIDE STORY.
>> AS A LIFELONG MUSICIAN ANDY
WAS NEVER AT A LOSS TO BRING A
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT INTO THE
PICTURE OR A LIVE BAND INTO THE
STUDIO.
?
>> THE "HERE AND NOW" PROGRAM
LAUNCHED IN JANUARY, 2003.
THAT MAY ANDY SHARED HIS COMMUTE
TO WORK WITH VIEWERS.
>> THOSE OF US THAT BIKE TO WORK
ALL YEAR SEE BIKE TO WORK WEEK
THE WAY THAT PARTIERS SEE NEW
YEAR'S EVE: STRICTLY FOR
AMATEURS.
>> WHILE STILL BOOKING
INTERVIEWS FOR "HERE AND NOW,"
HE FOUND TIME AND A PLACE FOR
HIS PASSION: MUSIC.
>> IT'S A 30 MINUTE MUSIC HOUR.
I'M ANDY MOORE FROM WISCONSIN.
>> HE HOSTED A PROGRAM
SHOWCASING LOCAL MUSICIANS AND
FANS.
IN THE END, THOUGH, ANDY'S
PROGRAMMATIC BREAD AND BUTTER
HAS ALWAYS BEEN POLITICS AND
POLICY.
AND HIS WORK AND SENSIBILITY IN
SUCH COVERAGE IS UNMATCHED.
>> PRIMARIES ARE ABOUT
EXPECTATION.
YOU GOT TO LOWER THEM.
>> AS YOU JUST SAW, ANDY SURE
MADE COMING TO WORK FUN.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, HE WAS
ALWAYS A SERIOUS NEWSMAN WITH
HIS FINGER ON THE POLITICAL
PULSE AND DEAR FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE.
WE WANTED TO CHECK IN ON ANDY
BEFORE WE GO IN HIS STUDIO
CONTROL ROOM SPACE IN PERSON FOR
A SENDOFF.
HEY, ANDY.
>> HEY, FRED.
>> SO AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS
OF FRIDAY NIGHTS IN THE CONTROL
ROOM, WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO
BE THERE FOR THE FINAL SECONDS
OF A PROGRAM?
>> IT'S SURREAL.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE GOING TO YOUR
OWN FUNERAL.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SO OUTSPOKEN
ALL WEEK LONG AND SHARING
MEMORIES AND PASSING ALONG, YOU
KNOW, GOOD WISHES AND SO FORTH.
IT'S JUST BEEN FANTASTIC.
TO IMAGINE FOR ANYONE TO HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN PUBLIC
SERVICE AND JOURNALISM IS SUCH A
TALL WISH, BUT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO
TRY MY BEST AT BOTH OF THOSE
THINGS, SURROUNDED BY SUCH
TALENTED PEOPLE.
IT'S CLICHE TO SAY THIS IN OUR
BUSINESS, BUT I'VE DONE A LOT OF
THINGS.
I'VE NEVER RUN CAMERA, EDITED A
FRAME OF VIDEO, WRITTEN A
PROMOTION, DIRECTED ANYTHING.
IT'S BECAUSE OF THOSE PEOPLE
THAT I'M HERE AND THAT WE'RE ON
THE AIR.
AND SO I GUESS MORE THAN
ANYTHING, I WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU TO THEM AND TO THE VIEWERS.
>> ANDY, THANK YOU TO YOU.
AND WE WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT
AS A SERIOUS JOURNALIST AND
PRODUCER, YOU WON A BOAT LOAD OF
AWARDS, INCLUDING FOUR
CONSECUTIVE, VERY PRESTIGIOUS
WALTER CRONKITE AWARDS IN
JOURNALISM.
THIS IS THE KIND OF WORK THAT
YOU SPENT THE PAST MORE THAN
THREE DECADES DOING AND WE WILL
SORELY MISS YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> I'LL MISS YOU, FRED.
YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS, YOU FOLKS
AT HOME.
THANKS SO MUCH, FRED.
YOU ARE A TOPNOTCH JOURNALIST
AND A DEAR, DEAR FRIEND.
>> U THAT.
THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
WITH THAT, WE INVITE YOU TO GO
TO pbswisconsin.org AND CLICK
ON THE NEWS TAB.
MONDAY LOOK THERE FOR EXPANDED
REPORTING ON THE WISCONSIN
PARDON PROCESS.
THANKS FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A
GOOD WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.