City attorney denies wrongdoing after report finds misconduct, alders will discuss Monday

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- In a wide-ranging interview Thursday, Nov. 9, Milwaukee City Attorney Tearman Spencer denied any wrongdoing, one day after a report alleged he and one of his deputy attorneys broke the law.

The city’s independent Inspector General recommended discussions about removing the two from their offices, but two aldermen we spoke with said that’s unlikely to happen, given the proximity of the April election.

A defiant Spencer said his department's payroll system does not enable him to do what he's accused of doing. We previously reported Deputy City Attorney Odalo Ohiku is alleged to have taken thousands of dollars from the city for work done at his private practice, and that Spencer oversaw it.

But Spencer defended his deputy and said he does not approve hours.

When asked point-blank if he's committed a crime, Spencer replied, "Absolutely not." He later said, "I think it's absurd and ludicrous to say you want to bring up charges."

Spencer repeatedly defended himself Thursday, saying he never approved 11 days Ohiku allegedly worked for his private practice while billing the city.

The city's independent Inspector General says both men broke the law, and those hours cost taxpayers $5700.

Spencer told us, "First of all, there is no certification process here. Everybody self-reports. So I don't even know how that system goes, and I've been looking at it now." He added, "I don't go through everybody's payroll and do that. That's the system that's been in place way before me."

Spencer said he briefly spoke with Ohiku to give him the report. "Attorney Ohiku, Odalo, is a very good attorney. And he thinks the world of the city."

But two aldermen on the Common Council's Judiciary and Legislation Committee -which will discuss the report Monday, November 13- aren't buying Spencer's defense.

District 4 Alderman Robert Bauman called it "Almost silliness because it was so obviously inappropriate. For this to be going on for three years is crazy." He added, "It's like someone flaunting the rules of the game and saying, 'Yeah, I know I'm not supposed to do this but hey I'm going to do it anyway because my boss doesn't seem to have a problem with it.'"

And District 10 Alderman Michael Murphy told us, "It's a very serious report in terms of the allegations that have been made."

Since Spencer won election in April 2020, dozens of employees have left the office, several have alleged misconduct, and others cite a poor culture and working environment.

In response, Spencer said, "I'm glad you're bringing that up, let's talk about it. Black man gets elected, some folks don't like it, don't appreciate it."

And when told some in City Hall are concerned with his performance, he said, "Tell me I'm not effective? Oh, we're very effective. Even in light of the turmoil and trouble that they try to present me to."

Spencer claimed people are trying to cripple his office at every turn, though he did not give names.

We asked longtime Aldermen Bauman and Murphy if Spencer's first term has been successful and effective.

Bauman said, "I don't think so. I've seen it up close. I think there have been many issues with the position."

And Murphy said, "I've never seen anything like this before. This is a lot of drama in the last four years."

Both Bauman and Murphy said council will discuss removing Spencer and Ohiku from office, but they added it's unlikely to actually happen given April's election is just five months away.

But Murphy said if the District Attorney finds something substantive in an investigation, it could change things.

Spencer said Thursday he's unsure if he'll run for re-election.