Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has partnered with the left-leaning Democracy Defenders Action, a group co-founded by former Obama White House ethics czar Norm Eisen, to provide legal support as federal investigators examine aspects of the 2020 election in the state.
The pro bono arrangement aims to shield county workers from potential targeting and to challenge any effort by federal authorities to seize ballots from the 2020 election, according to statements from county officials. Crowley said the move would “help protect any of our workers or employees that may be targeted.”
Democracy Defenders Action was co-founded by Norm Eisen, who served as President Obama’s ethics czar and later acted as special counsel to House Democrats during the first impeachment of President Trump while advancing dubious legal and public challenges tied to the false Russia-gate investigation. Its board includes Bill Kristol, a longtime Never Trump activist who founded and led groups such as Defending Democracy Together that spent millions opposing Trump. While the organization describes itself as a bipartisan effort to combat autocracy and protect democratic institutions, its leadership has been central to years of legal and political efforts targeting Trump and Republican priorities.
On the city side, the Milwaukee Common Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing City Attorney Evan Goyke to retain outside counsel for election-related matters. Goyke negotiated pro bono agreements with the Public Rights Project and the Washington Litigation Group. The resolution cited expected heightened scrutiny of future elections and ongoing questions surrounding Milwaukee County late-night ballot dumps in the 2020 contest.
The FBI probe has included an agent’s visit to the home of Milwaukee County’s elections director and interviews with Milwaukee police officers who worked during the November 2020 election. County Clerk George Christenson called the home visit an “intrusion” and defended the integrity of the election results, which were upheld in court challenges.
