GOP unrest over 2020, Vos shown in 2 videos
Behnke, Spiros actions posted on YouTube
MADISON – Two Republican lawmakers were surreptitiously filmed Thursday as one called for cheating in elections and another slammed a Capitol office door in the face of a man distributing a petition to oust Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.
The videos of Rep. Elijah Behnke of Oconto and Rep. John Spiros of Marshfield were posted on YouTube the day after Vos imposed discipline on a member of his caucus who falsely claimed repeatedly that Wisconsin lawmakers have the power to pull back the state’s 10 electoral votes cast in 2020 for President Joe Biden.
In one video, Behnke said Republicans should “cheat like the Democrats” in elections, joked about wanting to punch Democratic Gov. Tony Evers over his stay-at-home order, and criticized Vos’ control over Assembly staffing.
He also defended Vos’ decision to remove a staffer from the office of Rep. Timothy Ramthun, R-Campbellsport, after Ramthun accused Vos of working with an attorney hired by former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
“Tim has good intentions, but you can’t lie about another legislator,” Behnke said in the video.
In another video, Spiros meets a man distributing a “legal notice of removal” of Vos and quickly walks away and slams his office door as the man follows him.
Aides to Behnke, Spiros and Vos did not immediately respond to requests for an interview.
Evers lamented Behnke’s comments about wanting to punch him.
“Gov. Evers believes in doing the right thing and leading with kindness, respect, empathy, and compassion. It’s a shame those Wisconsin values seem to be lost on Republicans in the Legislature,” a spokeswoman said in a statement.
The group of visitors in Behnke’s office, who are not identified, appear to be questioning Behnke for the decision to strip Ramthun of his staffer over his claims about the 2020 election and press for a “full forensic audit.”
Behnke said he supports the idea but that there isn’t enough support in the GOP caucus to implement new reviews via legislation.
One man in the group meeting Behnke says he should push to decertify the state’s 2020 election result and
do more than back legislation that changes rules for future elections.
“You’ve got an obligation and as a Christian man to do the right thing,” the man says.
“I believe I am,” Behnke responds. Vos told reporters Thursday that no one agrees with Ramthun’s claim that Wisconsin can revoke the 10 electoral votes it delivered to President Joe Biden more than a year ago.
The videos of Rep. Elijah Behnke of Oconto and Rep. John Spiros of Marshfield were posted on YouTube the day after Vos imposed discipline on a member of his caucus who falsely claimed repeatedly that Wisconsin lawmakers have the power to pull back the state’s 10 electoral votes cast in 2020 for President Joe Biden.
He said an election review he authorized last summer is aimed at changing how future elections are conducted.
“There are some who believe – there’s one who believes – that we somehow have the right (to withdraw electoral votes) even though every lawyer that we have worked with in Wisconsin says we cannot undo the 2020 elections, “Vos said. “You know, Rep. Ramthun has that belief. That’s his right. But I think that what we’re focusing on is not the past. We are looking at the past to learn from it.”
The move exposed growing discontent among some within a contingent in the Wisconsin Republican base who believe Vos, who is a conservative Republican,
is not conservative enough and also has not investigated the 2020 election thoroughly.
Members of the group captured in one of the new videos called the review launched by Vos too secretive.
Vos last summer hired former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman to review the presidential election at a cost of $676,000 to taxpayers on behalf of Assembly Republicans.
Recounts and court rulings found Biden beat Donald Trump by nearly 21,000 votes in Wisconsin. Independent reviews have found no signs of widespread voter fraud.