Wisconsin Republicans seek to jail more officials as part of their review of the 2020 presidential election

Assembly Republicans sought Friday to jail the chairwoman of the state Elections Commission, Racine’s mayor and other officials as part of their months-long review of the 2020 presidential election.

The court filing marked the latest shift in approach for Michael Gableman, a former state Supreme Court justice who is leading the review for the Republicans. Three days ago, he abandoned far-reaching subpoenas he issued in January to the immigrant rights group Voces de la Frontera Action.

A month ago an attorney working with Gableman told a judge he was hoping to avoid trying to jail the mayors of Madison and Green Bay.

But on Friday Gableman intensified his efforts, telling Waukesha County Circuit Judge Ralph Ramirez he should incarcerate those mayors and others if they don’t sit for interviews with him behind closed doors.

The officials have said they are willing to talk to Gableman but don’t believe he should be able to do so out of the view of the public. 

Joe Biden beat Donald Trump by nearly 21,000 votes in Wisconsin. Recounts and court rulings confirmed Biden’s win. A legislative audit and a study by a conservative group found no evidence of significant fraud.

Republican lawmakers have said they launched their review because they still have questions about the election.

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/02/18/wisconsin-republicans-michael-gableman-seeks-jail-officials-2020-presidential-election-review/6853176001/