Overview
- This week federal agents approached multiple Milwaukee Police Department officers who were at the central count and at polling sites on Election Night 2020 to request interviews.
- The Milwaukee Police Department confirmed it knew about the outreach and said officers contacted have been told they are not targets of an investigation.
- Separately, agents have sought interviews with current and former local election officials and reportedly visited Milwaukee County elections director Michelle Hawley’s home, while a Wisconsin Elections Commission deputy administrator was also reported interviewed.
- Local leaders have acknowledged the contacts, with Mayor Cavalier Johnson saying city staff were approached and Governor Tony Evers saying his administration was not aware of a broad probe, and reactions have ranged from calls to let the investigation proceed to claims the outreach feels intimidating.
- The contacts in Milwaukee come as part of a pattern of federal election-related actions in multiple states this year and follow repeated recounts, audits, and court rulings that affirmed Wisconsin’s 2020 results, leaving the investigation’s scope and next steps unclear.