Here & Now

Madison Mayor on Election Probe Subpoena Threat

Frederica Freyberg:

A Waukesha judge this afternoon held a hearing related to the compelling of testimony from the mayors of Madison and Green Bay under threat of jail time. The case stems from former Justice Michael Gableman’s investigation into the 2020 election.

Kevin Scott:

Why are we here? We’re here because the mayors were subpoenaed. They failed to appear at the designated date for their depositions.

Jeff Mandell:

This is just an outrageous abuse of process and of violation of the law.

Frederica Freyberg:

The mayor of Madison, Satya Rhodes-Conway, along with the mayor of Green Bay, are in the crosshairs of the Gableman investigation. It’s been a bumpy ride. Mayor Rhodes-Conway joins us now with her reaction, and thanks very much for joining us.

Satya Rhodes-Conway:

It’s my pleasure, Frederica.

Frederica Freyberg:

So, what is your response to being subpoenaed to appear and testify before former Justice Gableman?

Satya Rhodes-Conway:

You know, I think — I’m always happy to talk about what a good job our clerk’s office has done in our elections, but I think it’s really inappropriate for this investigation to be taking place behind closed doors, and it’s being paid for with taxpayer dollars. The subpoena that they used is one that you use to compel people to testify before the Legislature. And I think that this needs to be out in public. I am happy to go talk to a legislative committee about the elections process here in Madison. And really, you know, it’s a block away. I’m happy to walk up the street. All they have to do is invite me. But I think that what we can see here is that it’s not actually about how our elections were run. All the evidence we have, all the court cases, all the investigations are, you know, have shown that we did a really good job here in Madison. This is about trying to intimidate us. This is about trying to intimidate voters and to cast doubt on future elections.

Frederica Freyberg:

Did you fail to comply with said subpoena?

Satya Rhodes-Conway:

No, absolutely not. And our lawyers have been talking to Attorney Gableman and his staff this entire time. We produced reams of documents for them. And at that time, they told us that it was not necessary for us to come and testify.

Frederica Freyberg:

So, how would you describe this process of this investigation as it pertains to you?

Satya Rhodes-Conway:

You know, I think that it’s been just one thing after another showing that they really are not interested in running at an actual fair investigation, but rather they are interested in trying to create a lot of drama and a lot of doubt in the public realm. And you know, everything that we’ve done, you know, on our side has been cooperative and trying to understand what they want from us. And, you know, we don’t hear back from them. We hear from the press what they’re saying rather than direct communication back to our office.

Frederica Freyberg:

Do you know what he wants to ask you?

Satya Rhodes-Conway:

I have no idea.

Frederica Freyberg:

What would you say about the 2020 election in Madison?

Satya Rhodes-Conway:

I would say that our clerks and our poll workers did a remarkably good job running a safe, fair, and transparent election in the middle of a global pandemic.

Frederica Freyberg:

And what would you like to say to viewers or voters across the state and frankly across the nation about this investigation into the election and you?

Satya Rhodes-Conway:

I think that this investigation is yet another effort by people who are unhappy with the outcome of the November 2020 election and want to make it easier to question future elections. The truth is that elections in Madison, across the state of Wisconsin, and I believe across the country, are very well run by our municipal clerks and by poll workers who are your friends and neighbors. And so, I want people to have confidence in our electoral system and to understand that what we’re trying to do here in Madison is to make it easier for everyone who is eligible to cast a ballot.

Frederica Freyberg:

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, thanks very much.

Satya Rhodes-Conway:

Thank you.