U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) on Wednesday jointly recommended two experienced federal prosecutors to President Donald Trump to lead Wisconsin’s two U.S. Attorney’s Offices.
The senators recommended Peter J. Smyczek for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, based in Milwaukee, and Chadwick M. Elgersma for the Western District, based in Madison. Both were selected by the state’s bipartisan Federal Nominating Commission.
“Peter Smyczek and Chadwick Elgersma will apply the rule of law and serve the people of Wisconsin’s Eastern and Western districts well,” Johnson said in a statement. Baldwin added that the candidates “appear well qualified, [have] relevant experience, and [are] committed to delivering justice impartially.”
Peter J. Smyczek, nominated for the Eastern District, is a longtime Assistant U.S. Attorney in Milwaukee with over 15 years of experience prosecuting fraud, economic crimes, and other federal cases. He has managed high-profile cases, including business email compromise schemes and money laundering. Smyczek’s nomination comes as the Eastern District office is under interim leadership. Brad Schimel, former Waukesha County District Attorney and Attorney General, currently serves as first assistant U.S. attorney after a 120-day interim term as U.S. Attorney. District judges declined to appoint him permanently, and former Attorney General Pam Bondi placed him in the first assistant role.
Johnson praised Schimel’s service, stating, “I appreciate the hard work and dedication of Brad Schimel, who continues to serve the people of Wisconsin and remains fully committed to his role as first assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Wisconsin.”
Chadwick M. Elgersma, nominated for the Western District, currently serves as U.S. Attorney for that office. A Waupun native and DePaul University College of Law graduate, Elgersma previously worked as an FBI Special Agent. He joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office as a Special Assistant in 2017 and became an Assistant U.S. Attorney in 2019. As U.S. Attorney, he has focused on drug trafficking, money laundering, violent crime, child exploitation, and national security cases.
The recommendations will now be considered by the White House and require Senate confirmation.
The full letter from Senators Baldwin and Johnson, along with additional details, is available on their official websites.
