This post originally appeared at https://wisconsindailystar.com/politics/impeachment-decision-doesnt-spare-wisconsin-house-speaker-vos-from-republican-ire/tcsquare/2023/11/07/

by Andrew Powell

The former head of the Wisconsin Assembly’s elections committee is, once again, blasting Speaker Robin Vos for his handling of the state’s elections administrator.

State Rep. Janel Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls, on Monday criticized Vos despite his decision last week to move forward with articles of impeachment against Meagan Wolfe.

“Last week, Speaker Vos continued his support for Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe by asserting the need to adhere to the Constitution and await a court ruling,” Brandtjen said in a statement. “It is worth noting that impeachment powers were exclusively granted to the legislature and operate within a system of checks and balances. It’s crucial to recognize that impeachment was not a subject of discussion in the lawsuit; instead, the constraints addressed the appointment powers. Impeachment is not a judicial proceeding, and therefore, the Madison court cannot make references to a process over which it holds no authority.”

Vos last week assigned the articles of impeachment against Wolfe, which Brandtjen helped write in September, to a statehouse committee.

His spokesman at the time said the articles would get a hearing, just like any other piece of legislation.

Brandtjen has been a sharp critic of Wolfe since the 2020 election. She has been just as sharp a critic of Vos since the end of the Gabelman investigation last year.

On Monday, she accused Vos of protecting Wolfe.

“This marks the second instance in which the speaker has seemingly misconstrued the impeachment process. The first occurred when he led members to believe that a 2/3 majority was required to impeach Wolfe after Sen. Kapenga had requested Vos to initiate Wolfe’s impeachment,” Brandtjen added. “The pressing question now is: Why is Speaker Vos so committed to safeguarding Wolfe that he is willing to misrepresent the legislature’s authority and the Constitution to retain her in her position?”

Bradtjen is the second in the past few days to press Vos for action on Wolfe’s impeachment.

The Republican Party of Dane County on Friday released a 14-point open letter that it says makes the case against Wolfe and called on Vos to act.

“The majority of Wisconsin voters no longer trust the integrity of elections, in no small part due to Meagan Wolfe’s conduct. The signatories of this letter thus fully endorse the impeachment and removal of Meagan Wolfe as administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission,” the party letter states. “Ms. Wolfe’s impeachment is not a partisan issue. All suffer when election laws are broken. Wisconsin deserves a WEC Administrator with integrity – one committed to honoring the oath of office, who will follow Wisconsin law as passed by our elected representatives. Every day that passes is an obstruction of the will of the people. We therefore strongly encourage the leadership of both chambers to act on Ms. Wolfe’s impeachment with a sense of urgency.”

Vos has not commented on Brandtjen’s comments, or the Dane County Republicans’ letter.

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Benjamin Yount is a contributor to The Center Square.
Photo “State Rep Janel Brandtjen” by Wisconsin General Assembly.

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