Annie Pulley
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Harry Wait of Union Grove faces two counts of election fraud and two counts of misappropriating identifying information for his alleged role in requesting false absentee ballots in July 2022. |
Wait originally was charged in Racine County in September 2022 with two felony counts of misappropriating identifying information and two misdemeanor counts of election fraud.
His case was reassigned to a Walworth County judge.
The charges allege that Wait requested absentee ballots in July 2022 through the My Vote Wisconsin website using the names of Racine Mayor Cory Mason and Wisconsin State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.
According to previous Journal Times reports, Wait reportedly admitted to requesting the ballots in an attempt to expose vulnerabilities in the absentee voting system.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges Oct. 21, 2022.
During the Wednesday hearing, Wait also denied that he stole ballots, noting that the ballots were returned unopened to their rightful owners before the investigation concluded.
Wait reaffirmed claims that the state, as well as the court, had acted inappropriately and engaged in inappropriate communications.
"This is the state out of control, also our court that's out of control," Wait said.
About a dozen of Wait's supporters, some wearing shirts that read, "Harry's fight is our fight," sat watching the proceeding in Walworth County Court at 1800 County Road NN in Elkhorn.
Rebecca Sommers, assistant attorney general for the state's Department of Justice, argued that "the defendant's claims are not based in fact."
Judge Daniel Johnson, denying Wait's motion to dismiss, concluded that the alleged inappropriate behavior on the part of the state and court, though not admitting that it occurred, didn't warrant a dismissal.
Wait is scheduled to appear for a final pre-trial conference April 2, which will occur in Walworth County. His Racine County trial, which Johnson will preside over, is scheduled to begin April 15.
Case background
Wait reportedly notified his attorneys July 16 that he was dismissing them. His request to represent himself was approved Aug. 23.
According to documents in the case record, the court reportedly scheduled an Aug. 16 hearing on March 1, later adjusting the date to Aug. 1.
Wait alleged that the court failed to communicate with him directly about the hearing scheduled for Aug. 1 in Racine County. The court reportedly opted to notify Wait's attorneys, who he had previously discharged.
Through communications with court staff, Wait made clear that he would not appear for the Aug. 1 hearing, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
In an Aug. 16 action, the case was assigned to a Walworth County judge after multiple Racine County judges recused themselves.
The warrant for Wait's arrest was rescinded Aug. 23.
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