American Oversight Demands Records Held by Wisconsin Elections Commissioner Spindell
In a letter to the commission, American Oversight demands the release of public records held by Commissioner Robert Spindell, who in 2020 was one of Wisconsin’s fake Trump electors.
Nonprofit watchdog group American Oversight today sent a letter to the Wisconsin Elections Commission demanding the release of public records held by Commissioner Robert Spindell, who has failed to provide American Oversight with complete responses to numerous requests for public records in his possession.
Under Wisconsin’s Public Records Law, upon request, public officials must disclose public records “as soon as practicable and without delay.” WEC’s inability to fully and within a reasonable timeframe meet its obligations under the law prompted American Oversight to send today’s letter identifying 22 requests that are still awaiting complete responses, as well as seeking confirmation of whether Spindell has turned over any official communications stored on his personal devices and accounts.
Spindell was one of 10 Trump supporters who signed Wisconsin’s fake electoral certificate, and after the 2020 election made false claims about the prevalence of widespread voter fraud. Last year, as part of a civil settlement, Spindell and the nine other fake electors admitted that their actions were part of an effort to overturn the 2020 election, acknowledged that President Biden had won Wisconsin, and agreed not to serve as presidential electors in any election in which Trump is running.
Spindell also drew severe criticism last year for telling Milwaukee Republicans they should be “proud” that turnout of Black and Latino voters was lower in 2022 than in 2018. He has faced multiple calls to resign from pro-democracy and voting-rights groups.
Statement from American Oversight interim Executive Director Chioma Chukwu:
“The people of Wisconsin have a right to know with whom Commissioner Spindell is communicating about official matters, especially given his past efforts to undermine trust in our democracy and to overturn a free and fair election. We urge the Wisconsin Elections Commission to confirm whether Commissioner Spindell possesses records responsive to our requests — some of which go as far back as 2021 — to ensure its compliance with state law. American Oversight is committed to ensuring these records come to light, and is prepared to pursue legal action to compel their release if necessary.”
Among the records requested by American Oversight are Spindell’s text messages with individuals involved in the 2020 fake electors scheme, communications with legislative leadership and parties affiliated with the effort to challenge the 2020 results, and communications regarding fraudulent absentee ballot requests submitted by external groups. WEC has not confirmed whether Spindell searched for, located, or turned over all public records on personal accounts or devices responsive to all of American Oversight’s requests. Indeed, American Oversight has not received any substantive response at all from WEC to several requests from 2021 for Spindell’s communications.
According to records previously obtained by American Oversight, in May 2021, Spindell used a non-official email account to communicate with an administrator at the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau, which later that year concluded a review of Wisconsin’s election, finding no evidence of widespread fraud.
In 2021, Spindell declined to recuse himself from a vote on whether the WEC should investigate Wisconsin’s fake electors for violating election law. American Oversight first obtained the fake certificates from seven swing states, including Wisconsin, earlier that year.
Emails previously obtained by American Oversight suggested that Spindell had potentially been in contact with investigators working on the State Assembly’s discredited and partisan election review. The records also revealed that he was included on emails from prominent election deniers pushing for further investigation of the state’s 2020 results.
“We remain acutely concerned that Commissioner Robert Spindell has not given WEC timely access to potentially responsive materials on his personal accounts and devices,” American Oversight’s demand letter reads. “If necessary, American Oversight is prepared to pursue all legal avenues to ensure the preservation and production of responsive public records to which we are entitled under Wisconsin law, including those in Commissioner Spindell’s personal possession.”
American Oversight’s letter to WEC is available here: