MADISON, Wis. — In case you missed it, Brad Schimel gave a plea deal to a man caught with thousands of files of child pornography—but only after the man’s lawyer donated thousands of dollars to Schimel’s campaign.

In an independent fact check, Wisconsin Watch found that while serving as Waukesha County District Attorney, Schimel negotiated a plea deal with Andrew Lambrecht, a defendant charged with felony possession of child pornography. During the same period, Lambrecht’s attorney, Matthew Huppertz, made $5,500 in campaign contributions to Schimel’s attorney general campaign.

See more from Wisconsin Watch: 

Wisconsin Watch: Did Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel offer a plea deal to a man whose attorney contributed to Schimel’s campaign?

Yes.

Brad Schimel reached a plea bargain with a criminal defendant whose attorney made donations to Schimel’s election campaign. 

[…]

In June 2013, Schimel’s Waukesha County district attorney’s office charged Andrew Lambrecht with felony possession of child pornography.

In May 2014, Lambrecht’s lawyer, Matthew Huppertz, wrote a letter to Schimel, filed in court. Schimel had said that if Lambrecht pleaded to the charge, he would not file more charges and would recommend the mandatory minimum three-year prison sentence.

In January 2015, Lambrecht, who had no prior record, pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to three years.

Schimel announced his run for state attorney general in October 2013.  From December 2013 until Schimel won the election in November 2014, Huppertz made monthly contributions to Schimel’s campaign totaling $5,500.