FBI Agent Visits Milwaukee County Elections Director's Home, Clerk Calls It Intrusion

Washington — The FBI tried to interview Milwaukee County's elections director, the county clerk's office said in a statement Thursday morning.

George Christenson, the county clerk, said an FBI agent went to the director's home and left a business card.

"It is unfortunate that the FBI chose to visit the private residence of Milwaukee County's Elections Director rather than contact the Election Commission's office directly. No dedicated public servant should be subjected to that type of intrusion simply for carrying out her responsibilities with integrity and professionalism," Christenson said. He added that the county would follow up to determine the nature of the visit.

Milwaukee County is Wisconsin's most populous county and home to the city of the same name. Joe Biden captured nearly 70% of the 459,723 votes cast there in the 2020 election, and he won the state overall by just over 20,000 votes. In December 2020, the Trump campaign unsuccessfully sued to disqualify more than 200,000 ballots in Milwaukee and Dane counties.

Christenson defended the county's election processes in his statement.

"The 2020 Presidential Election was fair and transparent, and its results are accurate. This has been proven repeatedly over the last six years by the post-election canvass, the Presidential Election Recount, State court-based challenge, Federal court-based challenge, the forensic audit by Wisconsin's Legislative Audit Bureau, and two additional independent audits. Continuing to relitigate settled questions does not strengthen public confidence in elections but it undermines it," he said.

The clerk added that the county would cooperate with all legitimate law enforcement activity but would defend against any attack on democracy and the rights of Milwaukee County voters.

The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.