Brian Hagedorn Still Hiding What He Said in His Speeches to Hate Group

MADISON, Wis. — Over two weeks since it was reported state Supreme Court candidate Brian Hagedorn received compensation from a hate group for delivering speeches at their conferences, he has still refused to shoot straight with the people of Wisconsin and disclose the details of what he said. In response to an open records request to his court office from One Wisconsin Now, Hagedorn did not deny having records but claimed they were produced and maintained outside of his state office.

“While serving as a judge, Brian Hagedorn has been paid thousands of dollars by a hate group that wants to criminalize same sex relationships,” said One Wisconsin Now Research Director Joanna Beilman-Dulin. “His continuing refusal to divulge copies, transcripts or recordings of his remarks raises more red flags about his commitment to treating everyone equally before the law.”

Based on information compiled by One Wisconsin Now, media reports revealed between 2015 and 2018 Hagedorn was compensated with over $3,000 in cash and gifts by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) for speeches he delivered at their conferences.

The group has been deemed to be a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. In making the designation, they cite the ADF’s support for, “the recriminalization of homosexuality in the U.S. and criminalization abroad” and note the group “has defended state-sanctioned sterilization of trans people abroad; has linked homosexuality to pedophilia and claims that a “homosexual agenda” will destroy Christianity and society. ADF also works to develop “religious liberty” legislation and case law that will allow the denial of goods and services to LGBT people on the basis of religion.”

One of the speeches for which Hagedorn was paid $1,000 was delivered was at a resort in Cancun, Mexico, according to documents reviewed by One Wisconsin Now.

ADF regularly hosts gatherings at exclusive resorts and demands confidentiality from attendees. According to documents obtained by One Wisconsin Now from a gathering attended by former Attorney General Brad Schimel and other top Republican staffers to Schimel and former Gov. Scott Walker at a luxury Ritz Carlton resort in California:

“As a reminder, the ADF Summit is an invitation-only private engagement not open to the public. In order to promote candid conversations, share vital information, and promote alliance building, confidentiality is necessary and presumed unless otherwise explicitly stated. In order to protect the safety and privacy of our guests and to maximize the effectiveness of this Summit, we would appreciate your cooperation with these Publicity Guidelines.”