Donald Trump caught trying to stuff Wisconsin recount with more observers than allowed

| 2:57 pm EST December 1, 2016
Dear Palmer Report readers, we all understand the difficult era we're heading into. Major media outlets are caving to Trump already. Even the internet itself and publishing platforms may be at risk. But Palmer Report is nonetheless going to lead the fight. We're funding our 2025 operating expenses now, so we can keep publishing no matter what happens. I'm asking you to contribute if you can, because the stakes are just so high. You can donate here.

Now that the Wisconsin recount has gotten underway despite vocal objections by Donald Trump, he appears to have found new ways to try to flout the system in his favor. One recount observer, Karen Fehlker, has been sharing her first hand updates with Palmer Report from a Wisconsin hand recount session in Dane County throughout the day. And as it turns out, the Trump campaign has been designating more “observers” than the rules allow – prompting back-and-forth with election officials.

During a recount, each campaign is allowed to designate up to two official observers per recount session, to essentially watch over the shoulders of Wisconsin’s election officials and object to any counting practices that they believe may be invalid. Beyond the two official observers per campaign, any other observers from that campaign must stay behind the ropes. However, as Fehlker relayed directly to Palmer Report, the Donald Trump campaign tried to designate four observers, who proceeded to work in front of the ropes.

At this point an objection was made, and the Wisconsin officials then required that all official observers begin wearing name badges to identify them. But even after that, Fehlker – who holds a Judicial Doctorate – tells Palmer Report that “The Trump people floated in and out, almost always more than the permitted two.” The photograph she supplied to us demonstrates the setup, with various observers working in front of and behind the ropes, and only those in front of the ropes being able to clearly see what’s going on with the vote counting process:

wisconsin-recount

Despite the antics of the Trump campaign’s observers, which don’t appear to be having a material impact on the vote counting, Fehlker tells us that the Wisconsin recount – at least in Dane County – is being handled by officials in a proper manner: “The clerks are taking it very seriously,” she says. “They are professional and careful.” The statewide recount is just now getting underway and has not yet produced any publicly announced revisions to the official vote totals.