Sen. Fitzgerald lets it slip, Capitol Arrests meant to intimidate and Isolate Politicians from the People.

This odd and very unsettling warning went out at the Capitol, reported in the Wisconsin State Journal like it was just another day in the park.

WSJ: Fitzgerald warns politicians to not get near protesters … Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald’s office sent a note to legislative offices warning staff not to congregate along the balcony during the protests. “If you are in the vicinity of the illegal demonstrations that have been taking place over the noon hour in the rotunda, you will be considered part of the protests and are subject to being ticketed,” the message said.

Fitzgerald is aware that even innocent bystanders at the Capitol are targets for arrest. For a majority party that says they’re trying to protect everyone’s right to visit the Capitol, that’s not what I'm seeing, and leaves no doubt that they're outright lying. What better reason for a judge to find the “protest permits” unconstitutional. It’s impossible to say whose there to protest, and whose just watching, unless that wasn't the point:

Joe Meiller, a Madison Metro bus driver who brought his two sons to watch the singalong Friday from the balcony, was upset that he was asked to leave by Capitol police.

“We didn’t sing or clap once,” Meiller said. “If I observe a bank robbery nearby, am I a participant because I was nearby?”

Meiller is a participant by Capitol standards, because that’s the point of the arrests…shear intimidation and government censorship. Unconstitutional as hell.

But just as bad, Fitzgerald is telling politicians and their staff to stay away from their constituents. An interesting way to serve the people.