MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The final report from a taxpayer-funded and Republican-backed investigation into Wisconsin’s November 2020 election is being submitted to Assembly Speaker Robin Vos Monday morning, according to officials who’ve been working on it.
Former state Supreme Court justice Mike Gableman is leading the $676,000 probe. He has said the goal of the review is to see whether the election was administered fairly and legally and to potentially make recommendations on new legislation.
Gableman contends his review is not an attempt to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory in Wisconsin, which has been upheld through other reviews, recounts, and lawsuits.
Zak Niemierowicz, an attorney working on the probe, says the report will be submitted Monday morning and made public in the afternoon. Gableman will then answer questions about it on Tuesday in front of the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections at 10 a.m.
Last week, Vos indicated it could be difficult for new legislation to come from Gableman’s report in time for the upcoming election in November. Vos blamed Democrats, saying they have “thrown every possible roadblock up” to fight the investigation.
Democrats have been highly critical of Gableman and his review, calling it a waste of time and money.
The investigation has spurred legal action against officials who have not complied and questioned the legality of subpoenas issued to them.
Gableman has gone back and forth on demands to jail officials who have not followed his requests, including the mayors of Green Bay, Madison and Racine.
Gableman has wanted to interview officials in private, citing concerns that open interviews would hamper his investigation. Some of those officials have said they would participate in open interviews.
Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich has filed a complaint against Gableman, saying he should be fined and correct misinformation in a full-page newspaper ad.
Green Bay is one of five cities that have been the focus of the investigation. The city has been accused of letting private groups take over the administration of the election as part of a $1.6 million grant from the Center for Tech and Civic Life, a group funded by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Green Bay officials have denied doing anything illegal, maintaining they are proud of the way the city handled the election.
Subpoenas were also issued to officials in Milwaukee, Madison, Racine and Kenosha. Those cities, along with many others, also accepted grant money from CTCL to help run their elections. Lawsuits and complaints challenging the legality of accepting the money have been rejected.
