Wisconsin regulators file complaint against former judge leading 2020 election probe | News, Sports, Work

FILE. Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, an investigator hired by Republicans to look into former President Donald Trump’s 2020 loss in the battleground state, takes the stand and refuses to answer questions from District Court Judge Frank Remington, June 10, 2022 in Madison, Wis. (Amber Arnold/Wisconsin State Journal via AP, File)

MADISON, Wis. (AP). Judicial regulators filed a complaint on Tuesday against a conservative former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice who spread election conspiracy theories and was hired by Republicans to investigate President-elect Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss, accusing him of multiple misconduct.

The Bar Office’s 10-count complaint accuses former judge Michael Gableman of wrongdoing that could result in a variety of sanctions, including the possible loss of his law license. The complaint makes no specific recommendations as to what sanction the Wisconsin Supreme Court should impose.

Gableman did not immediately respond to text messages seeking comment.

The complaint relates to Gableman’s work investigating allegations of fraud and abuse surrounding the 2020 election, which Trump narrowly lost in Wisconsin. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos hired him to investigate. During his investigation, Gableman found no evidence of widespread fraud that drew bipartisan derision and cost taxpayers more than $2.3 million.

In 2021, when he hired Gableman, Vos said it was “extremely confident” in his abilities. But when he fired Gableman in August 2022, Vos named him officiant “embarrassment”. This year, Gableman helped Trump supporters try to remove Vos from office. Two of their efforts failed to gather enough valid signatures to make it to a vote.

In 2022, Vos said Gableman should lose his law license because of his conduct during the election investigation. Vos did not return a message Tuesday seeking comment.

During the seven-month investigation, Gableman was sued and countersued over his response to discovery requests and subpoenas. He was ridiculed for his scant spending records, criticized for sending confusing emails and making basic mistakes in his documents, and called for meetings with conspiracy theorists.

The complaint accuses Gableman of perjury, disrupting a court hearing, impugning the integrity of a judge, making disparaging remarks about an opposing attorney, violating the Open Documents Act and disclosing information about Vos’ representation during the investigation while Gableman advertised the failed attempt. recall Vos from the office.

Among the allegations in the complaint:

— Gableman filed lawsuits in Waukesha County Circuit Court trying to compel the mayors of Madison and Green Bay to testify, without telling the court that his office agreed that testimony was not necessary because the two cities had turned over the election documents Gableman requested.

— He falsely accused Wisconsin Board of Elections Administrator Megan Wolfe and officials in five Wisconsin cities of trying to hide the use of election grants from the Center for Technology and Civic Life during testimony before the Assembly Elections Committee. CTCL is a liberal group backed by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

— Gableman violated the rules of attorney ethics by publicly discussing private conversations with Vos related to the investigation. The complaint cites two videos in which Gableman appeared in support of Vos’ recall efforts. The videos were shown on a program hosted by Trump supporter Mike Lindell.

— Gableman was practicing law while working on the investigation, despite his claims to the contrary. He provided legal advice in his election report, represented his office as a Waukesha County attorney, and signed a contract with Vos that said he would serve as legal counsel.

— Gableman’s office destroyed public documents requested by the liberal group American Oversight.

— During a hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington on whether the records were accidentally destroyed, Gableman accused Remington on the witness stand of sending him to prison and acting as an attorney for US surveillance. Gableman was also caught on microphone during a court break making sarcastic comments about Remington and American Oversight attorney Krista Westerberg’s ability to do his job without Remington’s help.

Remington eventually held Gableman in contempt of court for not complying with open documents laws. The judge sent a contempt order to OLR.

Lawyers from the liberal law firm Law Forward also sought sanctions against Gableman in 2023.

“Gableman misused taxpayer funds, promoted baseless conspiracy theories, and used inappropriate intimidation tactics; his efforts have undermined the integrity of our electoral system.” This was announced on Tuesday by the president of Law Forward, Jeff Mundell.

Gableman served on the Wisconsin Supreme Court from 2008 to 2018 and joined the conservative majority in several landmark decisions, including one that upheld a state law that effectively ended collective bargaining for state employees. The court is now controlled by 4-3 liberal justices, including one elected to the seat vacated by Gableman.