Tempers Flare, Monty Python Crack Offered at Recount
Commission chair accuses Trump campaign of manufacturing a controversy.

The poop emoji wristband, the peasant scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, recount observers (top right) and Milwaukee County commissioners (bottom right). Recount photos by Jeramey Jannene. Monty Python image captured from YouTube.
Milwaukee County Clerk George L. Christenson‘s message on Monday was clear. Tensions were easing, the Milwaukee County presidential recount was moving smoothly.
Data bore that out. Approximately 380,000 of the 460,000 ballots had been processed by the end of the day. Sixteen of 19 municipalities had finished their work.
Then tempers flared at the end of the day. The commission chair compared the Trump campaign to a satirical character from Monty Python.
The commission voted to clarify the rule on Monday, narrowing the window of unacceptable ways to photograph materials.
Voiland said the rule was still being incorrectly enforced. He earlier testified that he was incorrectly halted from taking a photo of the entire room.
A Trump campaign observer taking photos triggered a county review on Tuesday.
“I observed the individual take a photo with the ballots on it,” said Christenson. But he said it had no identifying information of voters, even after magnifying the image.
Voiland contended it was therefore not a violation.
Commission chair Tim Posnanski, a Democrat, disagreed: “That is a violation of the rule.” Christenson was less clear.
Voiland suggested a change in the policy was needed.
Posnanski disagreed. “We are near the end, I hope this doesn’t come up tomorrow,” said the chair. “The witness who suffered this terrible indignity is not here.”
The Trump campaign has successfully had a number of affidavits regarding absentee ballots placed on the record that could be used in a potential future legal challenge. An ally of the Trump campaign is challenging 157,000 ballots in court and attempting to get the election overturned, even before the recount is completed.
“I am not inclined to accept any of these materials,” said Posnanski. He said if there are significant issues they should be brought to the commission promptly for a ruling.
“This is starting to call to mind the peasant from Monty Python and the Holy Grail [who calls out] ‘help, help, I’m being repressed’,” he said (see the clip below).
“I am attempting to bring it to your attention before the day ends,” said Voiland.
The lone Republican on the three-member commission warned the Trump campaign: “I would suggest you be a little more succinct with where things are going,” said Rick Baas.
Christenson said he had been telling people things had been tension free until now. “To me it’s frustrating.”
Posnanski said the Trump campaign was trying to “manufacture a controversy.”
He said he wasn’t inclined to say anything on the record previously, but he now would identify illegal behavior by a Trump observer. “One of the Trump observers actually grabbed election materials today,” he said. “There should be no doubt that is prohibited.” Objections are supposed to be made verbally and then materials set aside for further review.
“Tempers are getting a little high right now,” said Baas, who said he would still support adding the affidavits to the record. “When these events happen they need to be brought up faster.”
“These items are maintained as rejected evidence, correct?” asked Voiland.
Laughing, Posnanski, an attorney, said “no.”
Voiland said state statute maintains that they are, citing state statute 9.01.
The commission did not maintain a record of the rejected evidence.
As of now, the Wisconsin Elections Commission has not published updated totals from both Milwaukee and Dane counties. Data released Tuesday showed Trump closing the gap on Joe Biden by 57 votes, but almost 450 previously uncounted votes from the City of Milwaukee are expected to change that.
Day six of the recount started quietly. Fewer workers are present at the Wisconsin Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave., then any day prior due to the number of suburbs completing their work. The City of Milwaukee is now processing its in-person ballots, having finished its absentee ballots, and clerks from Greenfield and River Hills are working to complete the recount for their municipalities.
There is a state statutory deadline of December 1st to complete the recount.
Monty Python Clip
More about the 2020 General Election
- Data Wonk: New Voters Won the 2020 Election - Bruce Thompson - Jan 20th, 2021
- GOP State Legislators Asked Pence to Not Certify Election - Melanie Conklin - Jan 14th, 2021
- Rep. Hintz: Condemns Republican Legislators’ Lies and Dangerous Rhetoric - State Rep. Gordon Hintz - Jan 14th, 2021
- Tiffany, Fitzgerald Object To Some Biden Electors - Shawn Johnson - Jan 7th, 2021
- Sen. Baldwin: “It’s Disgraceful” - Urban Milwaukee - Jan 6th, 2021
- Rep Moore Blames Trump for Today’s Chaos - Urban Milwaukee - Jan 6th, 2021
- Rep. Gallagher: “We are witnessing absolute banana republic crap in the United States Capitol right now” - Urban Milwaukee - Jan 6th, 2021
- Back in the News: Cleta Mitchell Resigns from Foley Firm - Bruce Murphy - Jan 5th, 2021
- Gallagher Assails GOP Push to Nullify Election - Rob Mentzer - Jan 5th, 2021
- Back in the News: Foley Firm Faces Blowback on Trump Call - Bruce Murphy - Jan 5th, 2021
Read more about 2020 General Election here
More about the Presidential Recount
- Legislature Refuses to Change Absentee Vote Counting Law - Nora Eckert - Dec 5th, 2020
- Supervisor Martin Thanks Election Commission for Successfully Completing the Recount - Sup. Felesia Martin - Dec 2nd, 2020
- State Elections Commission Gets Testy - Jeramey Jannene - Dec 1st, 2020
- State Declares Biden Won Election - Graham Kilmer - Nov 30th, 2020
- Recount Reaffirms that Wisconsin Voters Picked Joe Biden - A Better Wisconsin Together - Nov 30th, 2020
- AG Kaul Issues Statement on Completion of Partial Recount in Wisconsin - Josh Kaul - Nov 30th, 2020
- Wisconsin Recount Grows Biden’s Margin, But Trump Says Fight Isn’t Over - Jeramey Jannene - Nov 29th, 2020
- Trump Promises Lawsuit Challenging Wisconsin Election Results - Jeramey Jannene - Nov 29th, 2020
- Milwaukee County Completes Recount - George Christenson - Nov 27th, 2020
- Milwaukee County Recount Finished, Dane County Continuing - Jeramey Jannene - Nov 27th, 2020
Read more about Presidential Recount here