Former Waukesha County circuit court judge and state attorney general Brad Schimel was recently sworn in as interim US attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
On Monday, November 17, Schimel was sworn into the new position, taking over the role previously held by Gregory Haanstad, who was previously appointed by the Biden administration. Haanstad was removed from his position at the beginning of 2025.
Since then, assistant US attorney Richard Frohling has served as an acting US attorney. Frohling will now be returning to his previous job as the First Assistant United States Attorney.
In response to his appointment, Schimel stated:
“I am deeply honored to be appointed Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. For more than three and a half decades, public service has been my calling – first as a young prosecutor in Waukesha County, then as District Attorney, Attorney General, and most recently as a judge. In every one of those roles, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside dedicated professionals who believe, as I do, that justice isn’t just a system – it’s a promise we make to the people we serve.
I want to thank everyone who has placed their trust in me once again. I am grateful for the opportunity to lead an office filled with exceptional attorneys, investigators, and staff whose work often goes unseen, but whose impact is felt every single day in communities across this district. I am well aware that the word “interim” appears in front of my title. I am optimistic that this will become a longer-term opportunity, but whatever the case, I intend to work hard to support the team here to do great things for the people we serve.”
Schimel served as the Waukesha County District Attorney from 2006 until his l=election to Wisconsin Attorney General in 2014, where he served two consecutive terms.
Earlier this year, Schimel ran for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Despite having one of the most expensive political campaigns in history, Schimel ultimately lost to Justice Susan Crawford.
Allegedly, Schimel reached out to US Attorney General Pam Bondi about the position. The two had a working relationship from their shared time as state attorney generals.
