<mediadc-video-embed data-state="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000161-3486-d333-a9e9-76c6fbf30000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b93390000"},"cms.content.publishDate":1655316666872,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"0000017d-00b6-db7d-abfd-7cb766d10000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"cms.content.updateDate":1655316666872,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"0000017d-00b6-db7d-abfd-7cb766d10000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"rawHtml":"
var _bp = _bp||[]; _bp.push({ "div": "Brid_54545734", "obj": {"id":"27789","width":"16","height":"9","video":"1027065"} }); rn","_id":"00000181-688f-ddb6-a5eb-68bfd1330001","_type":"2f5a8339-a89a-3738-9cd2-3ddf0c8da574"}”>Video EmbedMichael Gableman, the special counsel overseeing Wisconsin‘s inquiry of the 2020 election, was slapped with a $2,000-per-day contempt fine Wednesday.
Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington delivered a blistering rebuke of Gableman for his conduct and ordered him to pay the fine until he proves that he turned over all the documents requested by watchdog group American Oversight in compliance with prior court rulings.
WISCONSIN 2020 ELECTION SPECIAL COUNSEL OFFICE HELD IN CONTEMPT AS SPARKS FLY IN COURT
“Wisconsin demands more from its attorneys,” Remington wrote. “Gableman’s demeaning conduct has discredited the profession and every other person sworn ‘to commit themselves to live by the constitutional processes of our system.”
Gableman was in court Friday under a subpoena. At the time, Remington announced he would hold Gableman in contempt of court, following a fiery court appearance in which the former state Supreme Court justice declined to answer questions beyond his name and occupation.
During the hearing, Gableman had a hot mic moment in which he joked that Remington was just American Oversight attorney Christa Westerberg “with a beard.” He then appeared to make a sexual innuendo by imitating Remington asking Westerberg, “Why don’t you come back into my chambers and you can dictate what [inaudible].”
https://twitter.com/bundtclaw/status/1535480860723630080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1535480860723630080%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jsonline.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F2022%2F06%2F15%2Fgablemans-misogynistic-comments-should-penalized-judge-says%2F7635525001%2FRemington never made such a request to Westerberg during the proceeding — Gableman’s remarks were apparently made in jest — but Remington scolded his behavior in the Wednesday ruling, lambasting Gableman’s remarks as “misogynistic,” “sophomoric innuendo,” and “disruptive and disrespectful.”
“Gableman’s conduct was an affront to the judicial process and an insult to Atty. Westerberg, by their very suggestion that she is not capable of litigating without the help of the judge,” Remington continued in the ruling. “The sophomoric innuendo about Atty. Westerberg coming back to chambers is a sad reminder that in 2022, woman lawyers still have to do more than be excellent at their job.”
“The circus Gableman created in the courtroom destroyed any sense of decorum and irreparably damaged the public’s perception of the judicial process,” Remington added.
The judge ordered a transcript of Gableman’s remarks delivered to the Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation for possible disciplinary action against him.
“The transcript of these events does not tell the whole story,” Remington cautioned. “It does not show Gableman’s raised voice, his accusatory tone, and his twisted facial expression. It does not show that as he spoke, he pointed and shook his finger at the judge.”
Gableman has been embroiled in contentious litigation with American Oversight, which is demanding that he turn over documents about his investigation into the Wisconsin 2020 election in keeping with the state open records laws. At one point, Gableman’s office said it was destroying unimportant documents, prompting a request for an injunction.
“Multiple courts have repeatedly ruled that the records of the Assembly’s partisan election review belong to the public,” Dan Schwager, American Oversight chief counsel, said after the order Wednesday. “We hope this decision will finally compel Mr. Gableman and the Office of Special Counsel to comply with Wisconsin law and the court’s orders, stop blocking transparency, and release all the records of their biased work to the public. It is increasingly clear that this unprofessional ‘investigation’ is little more than a charade intended to prop up former President Trump’s dangerously false claims of election fraud.”
Courts have instructed Gableman not to destroy documents such as emails and texts, and Remington sought assurances from Gableman during the hearing last Friday that he was complying with those orders. But Gableman was defiant and invoked his Fifth Amendment rights to avoid answering questions.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Wisconsin General Assembly Speaker Robin Vos hired Gableman to investigate maleficence in the 2020 election in response to grumblings from former President Donald Trump that rampant voter fraud cost him the election in key battleground states. Gableman has released some reports on his findings, but they have been met with condemnation from the Wisconsin Elections Commission, which insists his reports are riddled with mischaracterizations of the state’s election practices.
Last month, Gableman’s inquiry was paused while he faces heavy litigating over his investigation. The Washington Examiner reached out to a representative for Gableman for comment.
