{"id":2356707,"date":"2024-10-18T13:29:01","date_gmt":"2024-10-18T17:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-leftist-led-wisconsin-doj-raids-wausau-mayors-home\/"},"modified":"2024-10-18T13:31:09","modified_gmt":"2024-10-18T17:31:09","slug":"exclusive-leftist-led-wisconsin-doj-raids-wausau-mayors-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-leftist-led-wisconsin-doj-raids-wausau-mayors-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Exclusive: Leftist-Led Wisconsin DOJ Raids Wausau Mayor&#8217;s Home"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fexclusive-leftist-led-wisconsin-doj-raids-wausau-mayors-home%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2356707&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Democrat Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul&#8217;s Department of Justice conducted \u200ba raid on\u200b the home\u200c and office of conservative\u200c Wausau Mayor \u2064Doug Diny \u2064as part \u2062of an investigation related \u2063to Diny&#8217;s\u200c removal of\u2064 an unsecured absentee ballot \u200cdrop box. The raid occurred on Wednesday, during which law\u200c enforcement \u200cseized electronic devices, \u200bincluding Diny&#8217;s wife&#8217;s cell phone. The controversy stems from Diny&#8217;s decision to remove\u200d the drop box, claiming it \u200blacked security, a \u200dmove that has drawn scrutiny and \u2062led to calls for investigation from local officials and residents. <\/p>\n<p>Diny&#8217;s\u2063 actions were reportedly in conflict\u200d with Wausau City Clerk Kaitlyn Bernarde, who intended to \u200breinstate the drop box without the city council&#8217;s \u200bapproval.\u200c The matter gained further\u200b attention after the Wisconsin Supreme \u2064Court&#8217;s July \u2062ruling allowed communities to decide the use of\u2062 drop boxes, leading to numerous local governments opting not to utilize them. Critics of Diny suggest that his decision to remove the drop box interferes with citizens&#8217; voting rights,\u200d prompting some \u200bresidents to request federal\u2062 intervention, claiming he may have violated federal\u200c law. The investigation is being \u200bled by the Wisconsin Department of Justice&#8217;s\u200d Division of Criminal Investigation.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Democrat Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul&rsquo;s Department of Justice raided the home and office of conservative Wausau <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wausauwi.gov\/your-government\/mayor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mayor Doug Diny<\/a> in connection to Diny&rsquo;s removal of an unsecured absentee ballot drop box, sources tell The Federalist.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The raid took place Wednesday afternoon, according to a source with information on the stunning law enforcement operation. The source, who asked not to be identified because of the developing nature of the case, tells The Federalist that law enforcement officials took cell phones and other electronic devices supposedly relevant to the investigation. That included Diny&rsquo;s wife&rsquo;s cell phone, the source said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>An official in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mi-lawmakers-just-made-it-easier-to-commit-election-fraud\/\" title=\"MI Lawmakers Simplify Process for Election Fraud\">attorney general&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s office told The Federalist the state justice department could provide more information on the raid. The agency has not returned a call seeking comment.<\/p>\n<p>Diny could not be reached for comment Friday morning.&nbsp;Madison attorney Joseph Bugni, the mayor&rsquo;s attorney, declined to comment.<\/p>\n<h2>Leftist Lawfare Activists Out for Blood<\/h2>\n<p>As The Federalist <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/09\/26\/swing-state-wisconsins-ballot-drop-box-battle-heats-up\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a> last month, Diny removed the controversial absentee ballot box positioned outside city hall because he said it was not secure. Wausau <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wausauwi.gov\/Home\/Components\/StaffDirectory\/StaffDirectory\/20\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">City Clerk Kaitlyn Bernarde<\/a> had, <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/wisconsin-absentee-ballot-drop-box-mayor-0cb22602cb91b98051dff02a5e9be604\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">according to reports<\/a>, decided to bring back the drop box without approval from the Wausau City Council. Bernarde <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2024\/09\/25\/wausau-mayor-doug-diny-ballot-drop-box\/\">told<\/a> The Washington Post she noticed the drop box was missing and notified Theresa Wetzsteon, Marathon County&rsquo;s Democrat district attorney. Wetzsteon <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2024\/09\/25\/wausau-mayor-doug-diny-ballot-drop-box\/\">told<\/a> the Post that her office is now investigating.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Diny has defended his decision to remove the drop box and place it inside city hall.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court in July <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/07\/08\/leftists-get-what-they-paid-for-in-wisconsin-supreme-court-flip-flop-allowing-ballot-drop-boxes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reversed a previous 2022 conservative majority ruling<\/a> by the court that had declared the widespread use of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wisconsin-supreme-court-drops-hammer-on-2020-election-shenanigans-ballot-drop-boxes-are-illegal-under-wisconsin-law\/\" title=\"Wisconsin Supreme Court Drops Hammer On 2020 Election Shenanigans: \u2018Ballot Drop Boxes Are Illegal\u2019 Under Wisconsin Law\">absentee ballot drop boxes illegal<\/a> under state law. In the 4-3 July <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/07\/08\/leftists-get-what-they-paid-for-in-wisconsin-supreme-court-flip-flop-allowing-ballot-drop-boxes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ruling<\/a>, the Supreme Court gave Wisconsin communities the right to decide whether they want to use drop boxes or not, and where they want to place them. As The Federalist <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/09\/26\/swing-state-wisconsins-ballot-drop-box-battle-heats-up\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a> last month, many election offices have opted out. More than 60 local governments have decided against their use, All Voting is Local <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbs58.com\/news\/voting-rights-advocates-slam-communities-prohibiting-ballot-drop-boxes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">complained<\/a> to CBS 58 in Milwaukee. Four years ago, drop boxes were found in 66 of 72 counties, according to the news outlet.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Wausau&rsquo;s city council had yet to decide the matter when the city clerk rolled the old drop box back out. Her defenders argue that it&rsquo;s up to the clerk, the city&rsquo;s top election official, to ultimately decide the matter.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The majority in this case overrules [the 2022 decision] not because it is legally erroneous, but because the majority finds it politically inconvenient,&rdquo; Justice Rebecca G. Bradley <a href=\"https:\/\/www.democracydocket.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/2024-07-05-Opinion.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">wrote<\/a> in a dissenting opinion. &ldquo;The majority&rsquo;s activism marks another triumph of political power over legal principle in this court.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Wisconsin Department of Justice&rsquo;s Division of Criminal Investigation is acting as &ldquo;lead investigator&rdquo; in the probe, the Wausau Daily Herald <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wausaudailyherald.com\/story\/news\/politics\/elections\/2024\/10\/03\/wisconsin-department-justice-leading-investigation-into-drop-box-removal-by-wausau-mayor-doug-diny\/75497526007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a> earlier this month. Portage County Sheriff&rsquo;s Department deputies had launched the original outside investigation, the publication noted, citing a &ldquo;news release from Marathon County District Attorney Theresa Wetzsteon.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Leftist lawfare groups have been out for blood since the mayor acted on Sept. 22. As the local paper reported, a group of four residents, including Marathon County Supervisor Randy Radtke, delivered a request to the U.S. Attorney&rsquo;s Office for the Western District seeking intervention.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We believe that Mr. Diny may have broken federal law by using his official position to interfere with citizens&rsquo; right to vote,&rdquo; the residents wrote in their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wisdc.org\/images\/files\/pdf_imported\/US-Attorney-Letter-From-Wausau-Residents.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">letter<\/a> to U.S. Attorney Timothy O&rsquo;Shea. &ldquo;The drop box was set to be secured and ready for use by Monday, September 23, which Mr. Diny has now prevented. Citizens prepared to use this drop box for voting are now deprived of their right to do so.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Kaul, Wisconsin&rsquo;s highly partisan Democrat attorney general, who previously <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/josh-kaul-72139513b\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">worked<\/a> for leftist lawfare king <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/05\/15\/obama-appointed-judge-smacks-down-marc-elias-election-lawfare\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Marc Elias<\/a>&rsquo; old law firm, <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/05\/15\/obama-appointed-judge-smacks-down-marc-elias-election-lawfare\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Perkins Coie<\/a>, has been stepping up his attacks on conservatives of late. In June, the attorney announced charges in his <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/09\/16\/documents-expose-wi-attorney-general-josh-kauls-fraudulent-fake-electors-case\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">phony &ldquo;fake electors&rdquo; case <\/a>against a respected former Dane County judge and attorney for former President Donald Trump&rsquo;s 2020 campaign. As The Federalist has <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/10\/15\/leftist-wisconsin-ags-phony-fake-electors-case-continues-to-crumble\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a>, that trumped-up case appears to be unraveling by the facts, not the least of which is the fact that Kaul&rsquo;s Department of Justice had previously <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/06\/05\/wisconsin-ag-files-phony-fake-elector-charges-anyway-after-admitting-gop-plan-was-legal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">concluded<\/a> there was no crime committed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>For more election news and updates, visit&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/electionbriefing.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">electionbriefing.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Matt Kittle is a senior elections correspondent for The Federalist. An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-knew-100-percent-he-was-fighting-for-the-little-guy-former-top-trump-economic-adviser\/\" title=\"Trump Knew \u2018100 Percent\u2019 He Was \u2018Fighting for the Little Guy\u2019: Former Top Trump Economic Adviser\">award-winning investigative reporter<\/a> and 30-year veteran of print, broadcast, and online journalism, Kittle previously served as the executive director of Empower Wisconsin.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wisconsin AG Kaul&#8217;s DOJ raided Wausau Mayor Diny&#8217;s home<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":656,"featured_media":2356708,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Screenshot-2024-10-18-at-10.48.10-AM.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[7076,4602,7952,43294,4124],"class_list":["post-2356707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-doj","tag-mayor","tag-raid","tag-wausau","tag-wisconsin"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Screenshot-2024-10-18-at-10.48.10-AM.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2356707","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/656"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2356707"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2356707\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2356708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2356707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2356707"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2356707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}