It was the Summer of 2015 when James Santelle, then the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, stepped down from his post. He resigned amid an internal investigation into alleged misuse of a government credit card and impropriety surrounding an political event he hosted.
It marked the end of a long career in public service for Santelle, who until recently had not talked publicly about the circumstances that led to his resignation. That changed with an interviewhe gave to Madison-based writer Doug Moe in the April issue of Milwaukee Magazine.
Moe hadn't met Santelle before working on this profile, but says the investigation represents a blemish on a long career in public service.
"I'm favorably inclined towards Jim Santelle, but I wrote [in the story], 'Being careless is one thing. Being careless after being told your being careless, that's something else.'"
Moe further explains his conversation with Santelle about his downfall and hints at a return to a public role:
