Retired conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who is part of the special counsel leading a GOP-backed investigation into the state’s 2020 general election, is threatening to subpoena election officials who don’t comply, alleging there is “some evidence” local officials did not follow established state law last November.
In late July, a special counsel was appointed the power to expand a Republican-backed investigation into the 2020 election in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos gave Gableman the task, granting him the authority to hire full-time investigators for an in-depth investigation into the presidential election, which served as a consequential battleground loss in former President Donald Trump’s bid for a second term.
“Some evidence has been produced previously that shows some election officials acted unilaterally in deciding not to follow established state law,” Gableman said in a six-minute video released Monday. “We will request from those officials and others with potential knowledge of unlawful actions and will compel them if necessary to produce documents and testimony that will allow the public to gain a comprehensive understanding of how their elections were managed.”
The video from Gableman, which was met with a considerable number of dislikes on YouTube, follows confusion from some election clerks sparked by an email his office sent last week. The email was flagged in multiple counties as junk and a possible security risk, according to Wisconsin Public Radio.
‘SPECIAL COUNSEL’ EMPOWERED TO HIRE INVESTIGATORS FOR WISCONSIN 2020 ELECTION REVIEW
Lawmakers have authorized up to $680,000 in taxpayer funds for the investigation, which Gableman said began last week. The former justice has not specified when the investigation will conclude but has said it will not be guided by “political timetables.”
Gableman has said some information related to the investigation will be left out until a full investigative report can be presented.
“Speaking about the internal workings of an ongoing investigation is reckless and irresponsible,” Gableman said. “It can put witnesses and whistleblowers at risk of retaliation, it can do unnecessary harm to reputational interests, and it can result in relevant information and evidence being destroyed or compromised.”
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President Joe Biden defeated Trump by approximately 20,600 votes in Wisconsin. Gov. Tony Evers certified the results in early December after a canvas and several county recounts.
In a separate review of the election ordered by the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau, Wisconsin election officials found just 27 instances of voter fraud amid 3.3 million ballots cast, a total roughly in line with previous election cycles. Just two people have been charged.
