Mar. 24, 2026 11:15p
(WGTD)---Sounding as defiant as ever, conservative activist Harry Wait expressed no remorse following his conviction in Racine Court Tuesday night on election fraud and identity theft charges.
Deliberating over three hours, a jury convicted Wait of two felonies and one misdemeanor but returned a not guilty verdict on a second misdemeanor. The 71-year-old Union Grove resident could receive a sentence of years in prison. A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.
Wait was accused of ordering absentee ballots ahead of the 2022 election in the names of Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Racine Mayor Cory Mason in a bid to expose vulnerabilities in the voting system. Wait’s attorney argued his client never meant any harm.
Wait said afterward he understood the jury’s verdict. "I'm not disappointed in the verdict," he said. "I put the jurors in a very hard spot because I admitted I ordered the two ballots and I admitted I was not Robin Vos or Cory Mason. I wanted to test the system. This is what you get sometimes when you fight."
The verdict came following a two-day trial in the McReynolds Law Enforcement Center in Racine before Walworth County Judge Daniel Johnson. The courtroom was packed both days with Wait supporters.
Wait—walking with a cane and displaying the effects of a stroke—spent about an hour on the witness stand explaining himself.
While Wait’s attorney described his client as a great guy with altruistic motives, the Justice Department attorney who prosecuted the case offered a less flattering view. She said Wait acted the way he did to create a spectacle and attract followers. "When you break the law you should be held accountable," said Assistant Attorney General Adrienne Blais.
Wait’s attorney, Joseph Bugni, already said he plans to appeal.
The felony conviction means that Wait won't be able to vote unless the convictions are overturned. If they aren't and Wait serves a sentence, his voting rights could be restored once the sentence is complete.
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