MADISON, Wis. – A former Milwaukee election official was found guilty by a jury on Wednesday for misconduct in office and fraud. Kimberly Zapata, who was deputy director at the Milwaukee Election Commission, was charged with obtaining fake absentee ballots in November 2022. The jury convicted her on one felony count of misconduct in public office and three misdemeanor counts of election fraud.
Zapata used her work-issued laptop to obtain three military absentee ballots using fake names and Social Security numbers, which she then sent to Republican state Rep. Janel Brandtjen. Brandtjen, known for promoting conspiracy theories and advocating for the decertification of President Joe Biden’s 2020 win in Wisconsin, received the ballots two weeks before the state’s gubernatorial and legislative elections.
During the trial, Zapata’s attorney argued that she saw herself as a whistleblower trying to expose vulnerabilities in the state’s election system. However, Assistant District Attorney Matthew Westphal countered by stating that Zapata broke the law by obtaining fake absentee ballots instead of raising her concerns through appropriate channels.
Zapata faces up to five years in prison and is set to be sentenced on May 2. Her case has drawn comparisons to that of Harry Wait, a Racine man facing charges for requesting and receiving absentee ballots in the names of legislators and local officials to expose vulnerabilities in Wisconsin’s election system.
Milwaukee, home to a significant number of Democrats in Wisconsin, has been under scrutiny from former President Donald Trump and his supporters for alleged voter fraud. As Wisconsin gears up for the upcoming presidential primary on April 2, the state remains a battleground crucial for both parties in the November presidential election.
In a related matter, Republican state Rep. Janel Brandtjen is facing her own legal troubles after the Wisconsin Ethics Commission recommended felony charges against her and a fundraising committee for allegedly evading campaign finance laws during an attempt to unseat GOP Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.
The outcome of Zapata’s case underscores the ongoing tensions and legal battles surrounding elections and voting integrity in Wisconsin as the state prepares for upcoming elections. It serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding election laws and procedures to maintain the integrity and fairness of the democratic process.