Dave VanderLeest's thinks he's Elliot Ness in his Final Press Release

We might get a couple more, but if this were the last then DVL would be going out on top:

Thank you all for coming today,

Seriously, that's how it begins. I don't know if this was the script he used for a press conference that never materialized or what, but the statement thanks the reader for coming without providing any context.

False accusations have plagued this campaign. False slander Chicago style mob politics must stop in WI. The buck stops here. We are not going to allow these tactics to destroy tangible debates on real issues which face WI. The people will stand not for it, and neither will I. I truth is I was never found guilt of Domestic Violence in the State of WI. I was given primary care of my child in a messy divorce, and was never found guilty of abusing anyone. For these reasons I will be filling a slander lawsuit against Friends of Dave Hansen, DLCC, Greater WI Political Fund, We are WI, Politiscoop, The Green Bay Progressive, and One WI Now.

There's just so much to love from this. "False slander Chicago style mob politics must stop in WI." False slander? As opposed to the true slander? Chicago-style mob politics -- like the kind that seems to be tailing the candidate in an unmarked van with Illinois plates? Good stuff!

"I truth is I was never found guilt of Domestic Violence in the State of WI." Is DVL suggesting that there may be states in which he has been convicted of domestic violence? And way to capitalize domestic violence, as if we didn't understand just how serious the issue was in the first place. Now back to the good part!

I was given primary care of my child in a messy divorce, and was never found guilty of abusing anyone. For these reasons I will be filling a slander lawsuit against Friends of Dave Hansen, DLCC, Greater WI Political Fund, We are WI, Politiscoop, The Green Bay Progressive, and One WI Now. 

So this press release has little to do with DVL's campaign, but everything to do with his lawsuit. Now, I ain't got me none of that there fancy legal learning, so correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't one sue another party for libel when malicious statements are made in the press, not slander? And wouldn't one's lawyer make that distinction for his client before said client issued a press release? Something tells me this lawsuit isn't going to go very far.

Yet with such a commanding understanding of the law, DVL marches forward with this bold accusation:

We have also learned today Friends of Dave Hansen (Dave and Jane Hansen), Greater Wisconsin Political Fund, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), We are Wisconsin, The Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Brown County Democratic Party, and One Wisconsin Now are being investigated by the Government Accountability Board, and The WI Dept of Justice for civil and criminal RICO violations stemming from coordinating campaigns, which violate campaign finance and election law in WI. For anyone to say all these slanderous mailings along with the various slanderous TV commercials ran against me were not coordinated would be a complete denial of the obvious. 

RICO? Really? Something tells me the GAB doesn't have much authority to investigate any entity under the RICO act.

Thank you, I will not be answering any questions, all questions can be directed to my attorney Robert Gerald Lorge. 920-739-8080 

Bob Lorge! His name is kinda like the Steve Holt of Wisconsin.

Anyway, it will be interesting to find out if this frivolous lawsuit is being paid for from DVL's meager campaign coffer's or out of pocket as a personal expense (there really isn't much difference, except for the important legal distinction, which actually makes the issue very important).

More to the point, this is now like the third asinine claim DVL's made since the infamous Recall office break-in back in April. I hope that Green Bay area Dems remain conscientious about that incident because the crazier that DVL's accusations get, the more likely it is that he was the one who committed the break-in to win sympathy.

MORE: Yup, totally right about the whole libel thing. TPM went to the state DOJ and actually got a copy of the complaint filed by DVL and it's amazing:

It is evidence [sic.] that these groups are working together, pooling resources, staff, and coordinating their efforts in Senator Hansen's recall race. I make this complaint in good faith, and will look forward to the outcome of your investigation into the matter. The coordination of these groups is not legal in WI. Any person with eyes can see after reviewing the material sent to homes, or from watching TV ads sponsored by these various groups, that a direct violation of campaign law has occurred.