Wisconsin’s Leftist Attorney General Orders Raid on Wausau Mayor’s Home — Seizes Wife’s Cell Phone Over Ballot Drop Box Dispute

Wisconsin’s Democrat Attorney General Josh Kaul and his Department of Justice have taken aggressive action against Wausau Mayor Doug Diny.

The DOJ raided the conservative mayor’s home and office on Wednesday, reportedly in connection to his controversial removal of an unsecured absentee ballot drop box outside City Hall.

Sources close to the investigation have told The Federalist that law enforcement seized multiple electronic devices, including the cell phone of Diny’s wife.

Last month, Diny made headlines when he personally removed the drop box outside City Hall, arguing that the city council should decide whether it was needed, rather than simply adhering to a state mandate championed by liberal strongholds.

Diny donned work gloves and a hard hat as he carted away the unsecured drop box on a dolly, ensuring its safety until the city council could make an official decision.

While liberal critics screamed “voter suppression,” Diny stood firm, insisting that his actions were intended to protect the voting process from potential abuse.

“This is no different than the maintenance guy moving it out there,” Diny said, dismissing the overblown accusations of voter interference.

“I’m a member of staff. There’s nothing nefarious going on here. I’m hoping for a good result.”

“My position is that this city does not need one,” he said.

Two days before the raid, Kaul announced that Wisconsin Department of Justice is “working to protect fair elections.”

Wisconsin Department of Justice is Working to Protect Fair Elections: https://t.co/hutSXJuKLA pic.twitter.com/Z9Q5wpVQzM

— Attorney General Josh Kaul (@WisDOJ) October 14, 2024

According to the press release:

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul today issued a reminder that voter intimidation and threats to election workers are against the law.

“It’s essential that we protect the right to vote,” said Attorney General Kaul. “Wisconsin DOJ is committed to making sure that Wisconsin once again has a safe and secure election.”

DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation staffs the Wisconsin State Intelligence Center (WSIC). WSIC facilitates intelligence and information sharing with federal, state, local, tribal, and campus law enforcement partners along with fire service, emergency management, public health, military, and private sector agencies.

WSIC shares on an ongoing basis intelligence on potential threats with local law enforcement and elections administrators across Wisconsin and will continue to do so through Election Day. WSIC works closely with their partners to gather, receive, analyze, and disseminate intelligence about various types of threats to Wisconsin elections, including but not limited to threats against election administrators or of election interference, foreign or domestic.

Wisconsin DOJ is available as a resource to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, law enforcement, and district attorneys. Wisconsin DOJ will be communicating with law enforcement and prosecutors regarding relevant election laws.

Voter Intimidation & Threats to Election Officials

Voter intimidation is a crime. Wisconsin law prohibits anyone from using or threatening force to compel someone to vote, to keep them from voting, or to influence their voting decision. Wisconsin law also prohibits anyone from using duress or fraud to impede or prevent someone from freely exercising their right to vote.

Threatening behavior toward election officials is also a crime. Wisconsin law prohibits anyone from threatening death or bodily harm intending to cause, or creating an unreasonable and substantial risk of causing, public panic or fear, or the interruption or impairment of government operations, including the electoral process. Wisconsin law also prohibits anyone from refusing to obey a lawful order of a polling place inspector, engaging in disorderly behavior at or near a polling place, or interrupting or disturbing voting or canvassing proceedings.

The law not only prohibits individuals from taking any of these actions personally, but it also prohibits individuals from having a third party take these actions.

Unlawful intimidation can take many forms and determining if any particular action is criminal is dependent on the facts of the incident. Examples could include:

• Verbal threats of violence;
• Confronting voters or election officials while wearing military-style or official-looking uniforms;
• Brandishing or displaying firearms in an intimidating or threatening manner in or near a polling place;
• Aggressively approaching voters’ cars or writing down license plate numbers;
• Following voters to, from, or within polling places;
• Appearing to patrol or police the voting line while armed;
• Engaging in disorderly behavior in or near a polling place; or
• Preventing access to a polling place by making threats or engaging in intimidating behavior.

Additionally, it is illegal under state and federal law for private groups to conduct law enforcement or military activities.

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