Prosecutors in Wisconsin have formally charged a state legislator with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor offense, following a contentious disagreement over resolutions intended to honor Hispanic contributions. The charges stem from a feud that erupted last year regarding the drafting process for these commemorative measures.
Criminal Complaint Details Heated Exchange
According to court documents filed in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Democratic Representative Sylvia Ortiz-Velez faces up to ninety days in jail if convicted of the disorderly conduct charge. Online court records did not indicate legal representation for the legislator as of Wednesday, and she did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.
Origins of the Dispute
The criminal complaint reveals that the conflict began in August, as Democratic lawmakers were preparing resolutions to honor Hispanic heritage and Hispanic veterans in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month in September. Representative Ortiz-Velez reportedly became angered by her perception that she had been intentionally excluded from working on the heritage resolution, despite having been invited to participate in June and choosing not to do so at that time.
The complaint states that Ortiz-Velez still wanted to help draft the language of the resolution and subsequently contacted media outlets to claim she had been deliberately sidelined. She also expressed feeling excluded from another resolution being crafted by the same unnamed legislator, this one honoring Hispanic veterans, noting that her late husband had served as a Hispanic veteran.
Alleged Threats and Disruptive Comments
Two additional lawmakers, both unidentified in the complaint, told investigators that Ortiz-Velez made separate phone calls in which she threatened to spread "negative personal information" about the resolutions' author to the media. She allegedly stated that "they are going to do what I want them to do, or I'm going to x, y and z." When questioned about the meaning of this statement, she reportedly made comments about the personal life of the resolutions' author and other legislators.
The complaint characterizes these remarks as "indecent and tended to disrupt the good public order," though it does not provide specific details about the content of the comments. The document offers no further elaboration on the situation beyond these allegations.
Previous Controversy and Denials
This is not the first time Representative Ortiz-Velez has faced allegations regarding her conduct toward colleagues. In September, Democratic leaders issued a statement indicating that Ortiz-Velez had made a comment about shooting three caucus members. This statement came just one day after another announcement revealing that Ortiz-Velez was leaving the Democratic caucus.
In interviews with Wisconsin Right Now and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Ortiz-Velez has consistently denied threatening her colleagues. She maintains that she has endured years of "unacceptable, very vicious, vile and cruel" treatment from members of her caucus and claims that party leadership allowed this behavior to continue unchecked.
Political Context and Current Status
Representative Sylvia Ortiz-Velez won a third term representing central Milwaukee in November 2024. Despite the controversy and her departure from the Democratic caucus, the Wisconsin Legislature's website still listed her party affiliation as Democrat as of Wednesday. Messages left with aides for Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer and Republican Speaker Robin Vos were not returned, leaving the broader political implications of the charges unclear.
The case highlights the tensions that can arise in legislative processes, particularly around culturally significant resolutions, and raises questions about conduct standards for elected officials. As the legal proceedings move forward, the outcome could have significant implications for Ortiz-Velez's political future and for the dynamics within Wisconsin's legislative body.
