Election investigator appeals contempt order

MADISON, WIS. >> The former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice hired by Republicans to investigate the 2020 election in Wisconsin has appealed a contempt ruling against him related to his response to an open records request and heated appearance in court.

Michael Gableman last week appealed the June 15 order from Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington fining Gableman $2,000 a day until he complies with open records requests from the liberal government watchdog group American Oversight. Remington, in a scathing order, also accused Gableman of unprofessional and misogynistic conduct related to his appearance in court earlier this month where he refused to answer questions and made sarcastic remarks about a female attorney.

Remington also forwarded his contempt order to the committee that disciplines attorneys for possible further action, including suspension or repeal of Gableman's law license.

In his appeal filed Friday, Gableman argued that the penalties handed down were “grossly disproportionate to the violation.” His attorneys also argued that the judge was wrong to deny Gableman's motion to adjourn the contempt hearing and to force him to testify without his attorney present.

His attorneys said the judge mistook Gableman's refusal to testify at the June 10 hearing as his invoking Fifth Amendment rights. Gableman should not have been found in contempt, his attorneys argued.

American Oversight has won a series of victories before Remington and Dane County Circuit Judge Valerie Bailey-Rihn.

Gableman, in his appeal, asked that the case be heard by a three-judge panel in Wisconsin's 2nd District Court of Appeals, which is based in Waukesha.