** News Roundup: The Latest in Wisconsin
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Yet another alarming indication of the influence election denialists wield over conservative lawmakers took place this week in Wisconsin: On Thursday, Republicans in the Wisconsin Senate voted to fire ([link removed]) the state’s top nonpartisan elections official, Meagan Wolfe, who has been the target of right-wing attacks.

Those attacks ([link removed]) have focused on voting measures adopted during the 2020 primary and general election, as the coronavirus pandemic brought unprecedented challenges in the administration of election, and are a product of former President Trump’s refusal to accept his loss. But they’ve been steadily fed over the past few years by the election denial movement and baseless allegations of fraud.
* Wolfe has been the administrator of the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission since 2018, and was confirmed unanimously by the state Senate in 2019.
* She plans to continue in the role as the issue plays out in court, with Democrats and members of Gov. Tony Evers’ administration having denounced the vote as illegitimate.
* “The Senate’s vote today to remove me is not a referendum on the job I do, but rather a reaction to not achieving the political outcome they desire,” Wolfe told reporters ([link removed]) on Thursday.


Of course, the same conspiracy theories about absentee ballots and municipal grants are what fueled the Wisconsin Assembly’s discredited and partisan inquiry in the 2020 election, which was headed by attorney Michael Gableman within the Assembly’s Office of Special Counsel (OSC).

Earlier this week, the Wisconsin Assembly finally posted records from Gableman’s review — records that OSC lawyers had first promised would be made available to the public nearly one year ago.
* Last year, our investigation revealed that OSC was routinely deleting records from the review. We sued ([link removed]) to prevent the further deletion of public records.
* As recently as June of this year, OSC claimed in a court filing that the Assembly clerk had already posted all the documents, which was not the case.
* We’re still reviewing the documents — visit our website for updates ([link removed]) on what we find.


Meanwhile, news came out this week that Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has reportedly created a panel of former state supreme court justices to advise him on efforts to remove ([link removed]) newly elected Justice Janet Protasiewicz. Vos has threatened to impeach Protasiewicz if she does not recuse herself from Supreme Court cases about Republican-drawn redistricting maps.
* We immediately filed a public records request ([link removed]) for Vos’ communications related to that effort and his consultation with former justices.
* “It’s bad enough that he’s threatening impeachment for partisan political gain; creating a secret panel to shield these efforts from public view is an additional violation of the public trust,” said American Oversight Executive Director Heather Sawyer. “The people of Wisconsin have a right to know who is involved and how they’re working to remove a duly elected supreme court justice.

On the Records

More Records Related to DOJ Election Investigation
Attorney Katherine Friess was one of several allies who aided Trump’s scheme to overturn his election result, serving as an adviser to Rudy Giuliani. According to a story this week in Politico ([link removed]) , emails exchanged by Friess have been turned over to Special Counsel Jack Smith.
* Politico’s reporting shows that in November 2020, Friess suggested election denier Phil Waldron join Giuliani to testify about the election results before the Arizona Legislature. Waldron became a key player in the plot to overturn the presidential election.
* An email we obtained shows Waldron included Friess in a Dec. 8, 2020, email ([link removed]) to Trump attorney Jenna Ellis, Giuliani adviser Bernie Kerik, and Arizona Rep. Mark Finchem. “This is the base research doc that our team produced on AZ,” he wrote.
* We know from other records ([link removed]) we’ve obtained that Giuliani was in frequent contact with Arizona Senate President Karen Fann around this time — the email shows another link between Arizona leaders and Trump’s legal team as they challenged the election results.


John Eastman’s Disbarment Trial
Hearings in Trump-allied lawyer John Eastman’s disbarment trial are ongoing. We compiled public records ([link removed]) that shed light on the election-denying activities of individuals who appear on the long list of scheduled and potential witnesses.
* Last week, Michael Gableman testified on Eastman's behalf. Our investigation ([link removed]) of Gableman’s review shed light on the partisan and election-undermining origins of Gableman's taxpayer-funded operation — and the involvement of election conspiracy theorists.
* This week, Georgia-based election-denial activist Garland Favorito testified in support of Eastman. We obtained records ([link removed]) showing his involvement in several election-undermining efforts, including his communications with Doug Logan, the CEO of lead Arizona “audit” contractor Cyber Ninjas.
* Earlier this month, Eastman’s team asked if witnesses who were previously excluded for procedural reasons could be allowed to testify, including Arizona state Sen. Wendy Rogers and former state Rep. Mark Finchem. We’ve also compiled records ([link removed]) on these barred witnesses.
* Eastman is also referred to in the recent election-subversion indictments. Read more about what we’ve uncovered regarding Eastman’s involvement in the scheme to overturn the 2020 election here ([link removed]) .

Other Stories We're Following

Election Denial and Threats to Democracy
* Inside a Michigan sheriff's unsuccessful campaign to find election fraud (Detroit News ([link removed]) )
* Expert: Antrim election software 'in the wild' (Traverse City Record-Eagle ([link removed]) )
* California lawmakers ban most hand-count elections, targeting far-right Shasta County (NPR ([link removed]) )
* Two Kari Lake supporters file new claim seeking to overturn election (Arizona Daily Star ([link removed]) )
* Voting rights activists sound alarms over private tool that could lead to canceling voter registrations (CNN ([link removed]) )
* What Ginni Thomas and Leonard Leo wrought: How a justice’s wife and a key activist started a movement (Politico ([link removed]) )
* GOP activists target Arizona elections official Celia Nabor through public records (Votebeat ([link removed]) )


Voting Rights
* Texas trial over sweeping voting law to discuss voter ID and ballot drop box ban (Votebeat ([link removed]) )
* Trial underway over Texas’ GOP voting restrictions that prompted walkout from Dems in 2021 (Texas Public Radio ([link removed]) )
* What’s at stake in the long-awaited trial over Texas’s sweeping 2021 elections law (Texas Tribune ([link removed]) )
* Republicans unveil what they're calling an 'Iowa-style' plan to redraw voting maps (Wisconsin Public Radio ([link removed]) )
* Vos backs turning over drawing of election maps to nonpartisan agency in bid to bypass lawsuits (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ([link removed]) )
* Alabama asks Supreme Court to revisit congressional districting map case (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Bill to criminalize absentee ballot assistance back on the docket (Alabama Political Reporter ([link removed]) )


In the States
* Texas AG Ken Paxton's impeachment trial is almost over. This is what happened and what's next (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Lawsuit filed to block potential impeachment of Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz (Wisconsin Public Radio ([link removed]) )
* Florida Surgeon General advises against new Covid-19 booster for anyone under 65 (Florida Phoenix ([link removed]) )
* Deborah Birx, former COVID-19 White House adviser, to join Texas Tech's health center (Texas Tribune ([link removed]) )


National News
* New Covid vaccines get FDA approval (NPR ([link removed]) )
* When police kill and use victims’ rights laws to stay anonymous (Marshall Project ([link removed]) )
* Fraudsters may have stolen $1 of every $7 in covid jobless aid, watchdog finds (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Google trial begins in first major tech antitrust case in decades (Washington Post ([link removed]) )


LGBTQ Rights
* New Catholic Diocese of Cleveland policy bars gender-affirming care, use of pronouns among staff, students (Cleveland.com ([link removed]) )
* Whitnall School Board considers pronoun policy crafted by conservative law firm (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ([link removed]) )
* Washington U. curtails transgender care to minors in response to state law (St. Louis Post-Dispatch ([link removed]) )
* Kentucky, Tennessee bans on gender affirming care to remain in place during appeal (Louisville Public Media ([link removed]) )
* Jury awards $100,000 to Kentucky couple denied marriage license by ex-County Clerk Kim Davis (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* ‘Where is there to go?’ He needs gender-affirming surgery, but his state is fighting to deny coverage. (ProPublica ([link removed]) )


Abortion and Reproductive Rights
* Justice Department asks Supreme Court to end abortion pill legal challenge that threatens widespread access (NBC News ([link removed]) )
* Legal actions seek guarantee of abortion access for patients in medical emergencies (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Abortion rights group sues on behalf of women denied care in emergencies (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Planned Parenthood announces it is resuming abortions in Wisconsin (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ([link removed]) )
* Challengers seek rewrite of Missouri abortion-rights ballot measures, calling them misleading (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Alabama cracks down on birth centers, leaving pregnant women with fewer options (NBC News ([link removed]) )
* Abortion-rights groups in Nevada launch an effort to get a constitutional amendment on the ballot (NBC News ([link removed]) )
* Partisan battle grows over state funding for antiabortion centers (Washington Post ([link removed]) )


Threats to Education
* These 5 books banned from Florida school shelves might surprise you (Tallahassee Democrat ([link removed]) )
* Florida teachers face stiffer sanctions over classroom restrictions (Tampa Bay Times ([link removed]) )
* Osceola County ends automatic public library access for students over Florida education law (WFTV Orlando ([link removed]) )
* After conservative overhaul, New College of Florida faces federal civil rights investigation (USA Today ([link removed]) )
* Florida schools have month's end to submit their sex ed lesson plans for review (Tallahassee Democrat ([link removed]) )
* New Catholic Diocese of Cleveland policy bars gender-affirming care, use of pronouns among staff, students (Plain Dealer ([link removed]) )
* Over 80 employees have left Oklahoma State Department of Education during Walters’ tenure, records show (Oklahoma Voice ([link removed]) )
* Chris Rufo's dangerous fictions (Vox ([link removed]) )
* 'No left-wing indoctrination': Climate science under attack in classrooms (E&E News ([link removed]) )
* The conservative push for “school choice” has had its most successful year ever (Vox ([link removed]) )
* Moms for Liberty is winning its fight to remove books from one Maryland school district (Baltimore Banner ([link removed]) )
* New Mat-Su citizens library committee to review dozens of challenged books (Alaska Public Media ([link removed]) )
* Elizabeth school board passes resolution from Moms for Liberty playbook (Colorado Times Recorder ([link removed]) )
* Debate over 'parental rights' is the latest fight in the education culture wars (ABC News ([link removed]) )


Government Transparency and Public Records Law
* Youngkin borrowed Altria’s jet. No one will say where he went. (VPM ([link removed]) )
* DeSantis took undisclosed private flights and lodging through wealthy donors (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Effort to restrict public's access to Arkansas records stumbles at start of legislative session (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Maine Monitor wins public records dispute with York County (Maine Monitor ([link removed]) )
* Staffing shortages, complex requests blamed for delays in getting public records in Wisconsin (Wisconsin State Journal ([link removed]) )
* Sarah Sanders seeks to limit public records law amid suit related to her travel (ABC News ([link removed]) )


Immigration
* Federal judge again declares that DACA is illegal (NPR ([link removed]) )
* This federal ruling will keep many Cubans from getting green cards to stay in the U.S. (Miami Herald ([link removed]) )


Trump Accountability
* Trump faces another 14th Amendment candidacy challenge, this time in Minnesota (CNN ([link removed]) )
* GOP lawyer with ties to three Trump rivals enters 14th Amendment fray (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* The Constitution's disqualification clause and how it's being used to try to prevent Trump from running for president (CBS News ([link removed]) )
* Judge rejects Trump’s request to move Colorado ballot case to federal court (NBC News ([link removed]) )
* Judge restricts Trump’s access to classified info in documents case and limits what he can say (NBC News ([link removed]) )


Jan. 6 Investigations
* Infowars host Owen Shroyer sentenced to 60 days jail in Jan. 6 riot (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Trump seeks recusal of judge in federal elections case (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Trump won’t have to stand trial in October, Georgia judge says (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Judge severs Trump's Georgia election interference case, and 16 others, from trial starting in October (ABC News ([link removed]) )

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