American Oversight Seeks Default Judgment Against Wake TSI in Pennsylvania Election Audit Records Case

After the firm failed to meet multiple deadlines, American Oversight on Tuesday filed for default judgment against Wake Technology Services Inc. in a lawsuit seeking records related to a post-2020 inspection of voting machines in Pennsylvania’s Fulton County.

American Oversight sued the county in January 2022 for public records from the election review, which was conducted by Wake TSI, a company closely involved in post-2020 election denial efforts. In April, American Oversight filed an amended complaint adding Wake TSI as a defendant in the lawsuit. Wake missed its May 16 deadline to answer American Oversight’s filing, and on May 23, American Oversight sent a 10-day notice to the firm informing it of the intent to seek default judgment if the firm did not respond.

After the 2020 presidential election and in response to conspiracy theorists claiming it had been marred by fraud, Fulton County election officials agreed to have Wake TSI conduct a review of voting machines, mail-in ballots, and absentee ballots. The review, which occurred in December 2020 and February 2021, had also been instigated by state Sen. Doug Mastriano, who according to records obtained by American Oversight had threatened the county with subpoenas unless they voluntarily participated in an audit of votes.

American Oversight filed a lawsuit against Fulton County in January 2022, seeking multiple categories of records that were missing from documents previously released by the county in response to public records requests. In December, we sent a letter to Wake TSI requesting that it “preserve and keep safe” any and all records related to the review, including emails and text messages exchanged with the county commissioners and elections director.

Wake TSI has been deeply involved in the election denial movement, and not just in Pennsylvania. The firm subcontracted with Cyber Ninjas in early 2021 to help conduct the Arizona Senate’s sham “audit” of votes cast in Maricopa County. American Oversight has obtained numerous records providing details about Wake TSI’s role in that review, including documents showing that Wake TSI employees were routinely copied on operational emails and records listing election deniers and conspiracy theorists whom the firm hired to work on the “audit.”

Read more about American Oversight’s work protecting democracy in Pennsylvania here.