The Wisconsin legislators on the lam cannot be touched by out-of-state police, according to veteran Wisconsin lawyers.
The attorneys agree that authority of Capitol Police and other local law enforcement ends at Beloit, meaning Illinois officers couldn’t help their Wisconsin brethren retrieve those Democrats who escaped if they wanted.
“Cops in other places can’t just pick people up and haul them across state lines,” said Rodney Cubbie, a former federal and Milwaukee County prosecutor. “You have to have some sort of court order or warrant.”
Raymond Dall’Osto, a criminal defense lawyer, agreed the Democrats would have a safe haven if they continue to hide out in Illinois.
Illinois police “could arrest if there is a crime, but what is the crime?” said Dall’Osto, a Democrat and former head of the local American Civil Liberties Union office. “They would have no legal right to arrest them right now.”