H.O.T. Government’s Harry Wait handed over Rep. Elijah Behnke’s absentee ballot to a Racine County Sheriff’s deputy after stating he never requested the ballot.
Wait is a key member of a group calling itself Honest Open and Transparent Government Wisconsin. He told WisPolitics.com he has no idea who exactly could have had the Oconto Republican’s ballot sent to him, but added it could have been one of several people he showed how to request others’ absentee ballots last week at the Racine County Fairgrounds.
Requesting another’s absentee ballot is a felony. The Racine County Sheriff’s office last week in a press release said the Department of Justice is investigating Wait.
Wait also said he could have requested Dem AG Josh Kaul’s absentee ballot without providing a photo ID, but he did not because he said he feels his point was proven after he requested and received Assembly Speaker Robin Vos’ and Racine Mayor Cory Mason’s ballots.
He argued members of the Wisconsin Elections Commission are guilty of malfeasance for allowing such illegal activity on MyVote.
“This is a system made and ripe for fraud,” he said.
Wait last week requested ballots for Vos and Mason and notified Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling, who said he would not arrest Wait.
But Racine County Sheriff Lt. Michael Luell told WisPolitics.com Schmaling’s email should not be construed to mean he would never arrest or charge Wait.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission last Thursday voted 6-0 to delay pursuing criminal charges against Wait.
DOJ spokeswoman Gillian Drummond told WisPolitics.com the department has been in touch with Racine County DA Patricia Hansen regarding the issue but could not provide further details because the investigation is ongoing.
Wait has attended several Capitol events led by those seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin.
The Oconto County Sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Behnke lives in Oconto County.
See a picture of the Racine deputy holding the envelope Wait said holds Behnke’s ballot:
https://www.wispolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_2492.jpg
