Wisconsin Conservative Activist Convicted of Election Fraud, Defiantly Vows to Repeat Actions
A prominent conservative activist from Wisconsin, whose organization has been a vocal proponent of former President Donald Trump's 2020 election claims, was convicted on Tuesday night on multiple charges of election fraud. In a striking post-verdict statement, the activist declared he would not hesitate to commit the same acts again, framing his actions as a necessary test of the electoral system's integrity.
The Conviction and the Defendant's Defiance
Seventy-one-year-old Harry Wait was found guilty by a jury on one felony count of identity theft and two misdemeanor counts of election fraud. He was acquitted on a second identity theft charge. Following the verdict, Wait told local news station WTMJ-TV, "When you poke the bear you get that type of outcome, yes. I would do it again." He elaborated that he had deliberately "tested the system" and concluded that "the system failed."
Wait's legal troubles stem from incidents in 2022, when he requested absentee ballots for two prominent Wisconsin politicians: Republican State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Democratic Racine Mayor Cory Mason. According to a criminal complaint reviewed by WISN, Wait used the personal identification information of both officials without their consent, directing the ballots to be sent to his own address.
Motivations and Reactions
Harry Wait, who co-founded the organization HOT Government, which advocates for government transparency, asserted that his intent was to demonstrate vulnerabilities in the state's MyVote absentee ballot system. "I didn't want to take away their voting rights, even though I don't like them. You know, I don't think they're good, but I didn't want to steal their vote," Wait said during his trial, as reported by WTMJ-TV. He received Mayor Mason's ballot and turned it over to authorities days later; he did not receive Speaker Vos's ballot.
Prosecutors countered this narrative, arguing that Wait's actions were primarily aimed at generating "attention or notoriety" and creating a "spectacle." They emphasized to the jury, "You don't get to break the law to show that the law can be broken."
Since his initial arrest, Wait has garnered significant support within certain circles. Supporters have been seen wearing "Free Harry" T-shirts and military-style dog tags bearing his name at rallies, as noted by The Washington Post. Conversely, the liberal watchdog group American Oversight has characterized Wait's organization as a promoter of "fringe theories" regarding the 2020 election. This perspective aligns with a 2022 ruling by a Wisconsin judge who found "absolutely no evidence of election fraud" in the 2020 presidential election.
Organizational Response and Broader Implications
In a statement posted on the social media platform X the day after the conviction, HOT Government framed Wait's actions as a catalyst for necessary dialogue. "At a time when concerns about election processes are often dismissed or ignored, he took action to test the system," the statement read. "Whether one agrees with his methods or not, his actions sparked a conversation that cannot be ignored." The organization also posed a provocative question to its followers: "Should citizens be punished for exposing potential weaknesses in the systems that govern them?"
Wait's sentencing is scheduled for May 27. His attorney did not respond to requests for comment from news outlets following the conviction. The case continues to highlight deep divisions and ongoing debates about election security, transparency, and the limits of civil disobedience in the American electoral process.
