Ex-Wisconsin election leader convicted for acquiring counterfeit mail-in ballots
Former Milwaukee Election Official Found Guilty in Absentee Ballot Scandal
Former Milwaukee election official Kimberly Zapata faced a jury trial and was found guilty on Wednesday for fabricating identities to obtain absentee ballots during the 2022 midterm elections.
Zapata, previously the deputy director of the Milwaukee Election Commission, unlawfully acquired three military absentee ballots using fake identities. These ballots were then sent to Republican state Rep. Janel Brandtjen, a vocal supporter of overturning the 2020 election results.
“She is the most vocal election fraud politician that I know of, and I thought that maybe this would make her stop and think and redirect her focus away from these outrageous conspiracy theories to something that’s actually real,”
Zapata, who was terminated from her position in November 2022, justified her actions by stating that she used fake identities to avoid causing harm to anyone. Brandtjen took legal action following Zapata’s dismissal to prevent the counting of military ballots in the state.
Controversy and Legal Ramifications
Brandtjen expressed her disappointment in Zapata’s approach, emphasizing that raising concerns about election processes could have been done through proper channels without risking one’s job and reputation.
Zapata’s defense attorney argued that she was acting as a whistleblower to highlight an issue and ensured the unused ballots would not affect the election. However, the Assistant District Attorney dismissed this argument, labeling Zapata’s actions as election fraud.
“This was her deserting her duty to protect and secure our elections.”
Zapata admitted she hoped other election clerks would intercept the fraudulent ballot requests before reaching Brandtjen, but her plan did not materialize.
The sentencing for Zapata is scheduled for May 2, with potential repercussions of up to five years in prison on the horizon, according to the Associated Press.
For further details on this unfolding story, visit the Washington Examiner.
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