A Milwaukee jury has convicted Kimberly Zapata, 47, a former election official, on charges of fraud and misconduct related to the 2022 election. Zapata faced one felony count of misconduct in public office and three misdemeanor counts of election fraud, with the jury finding her guilty on all counts. The conviction could result in up to five years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for May 2.
Zapata, who was the deputy director at the Milwaukee Election Commission in October 2022, obtained three military absentee ballots under false pretenses, using fictitious names and Social Security numbers through her work-issued laptop. Her role included overseeing the absentee ballot counting process in Milwaukee.
The fraudulent ballots were sent to the residence of State Rep. Janel Brandtjen, a Republican who chairs the Assembly elections committee and has supported efforts to contest the 2020 presidential election results. Following the discovery of her actions, Zapata was terminated from her position.
In response to Zapata’s termination, Rep. Brandtjen initiated legal action to halt the counting of military ballots in Wisconsin. Throughout the two-day trial, Zapata’s defense portrayed her as attempting to act as a whistleblower, a claim disputed by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Westphal, who emphasized her actions constituted election fraud.
Wisconsin’s status as a pivotal swing state, having elected President Biden in 2020 by a narrow margin and targeted by former President Trump’s challenges to election results, underscores the significance of election integrity in the state. The state remains a key focal point ahead of the upcoming presidential election.
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