Former justice named Special Counsel to probe state election irregularities

Posted at 12:20 p.m. on July 31, 2021

The Brillion News

MADISON - Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, has upgraded the investigation into the 2020 Wisconsin election.

It was created by Vos to investigate irregularities in the election and identify areas in the system in need to correction.

On Friday, July 30, Voss upgraded the probe and declared that retired state Supreme Court

Justice Michael Gableman would be Special Counsel, with authority to hire a staff of full-time investigators to help conduct the probe.

Vos said the designation "special counsel" gives Gableman more independence and authority.

"Through this investigation, we aim to ensure there is confidence that every vote will be counted, and laws concerning future elections will be faithfully and uniformly followed," Vos said.

The original probe involved part-time investigative contracts, something Vos said was inadequate to the task.

The investigation is expected to be completed in the fall, about the same time that the Legislative Audit Bureau completes a forensic (i.e. criminal) audit of the election.

Gableman served on the Supreme Court of Wisconsin from 2008 to 2018. He did not seek re-election. He graduated from Ripon College and taught history in Milwaukee Public Schools before pursuing a degree in law from Minnesota's Hamline University.