Cartoonist may be charged over fake press release

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A political cartoonist could face a felony charge for sending out a fake news release using a reproduction of a Wisconsin Assemblyman's letterhead.

Mike Konopacki of Madison has acknowledged sending the news release last month to The Capital Times. The newspaper briefly posted an erroneous story on its website.

Konopacki has drawn editorial cartoons for the newspaper on a freelance basis.

The news release was printed on a reproduction of state Rep. Steve Nass' letterhead. It said the Whitewater Republican joined a Wisconsin congressman and senator in pressuring a Smithsonian museum to purge its archives of posters from last year's state Capitol protests.

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A Wisconsin State Journal report says Konopacki has apologized.

Dane County prosecutors are reviewing whether to charge him for reproducing a state official's letterhead.

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Information from: Wisconsin State Journal

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