Thread by @weareoversight

What is the “constitutional sheriffs” movement?

How is it involved in election denial efforts?

Here’s what you need to know about the movement — and how we’re investigating.

#FoiaFriday
americanoversight.org/investigation/…

The “constitutional sheriffs” movement — a fringe theory that holds that sheriffs have more law enforcement power in their home counties than any other government body or individual — has risen in influence over the past decade.

Adherents believe that county sheriffs are the ultimate authority in determining the constitutionality of the laws they must enforce — including on matters of election administration.
statesuniteddemocracy.org/wp-content/upl…

In recent years, the movement has brought its work to the election denial space, with many constitutional sheriffs running for office on promises not to enforce certain laws, and others working as self-appointed election police.
newrepublic.com/article/168567…

Election deniers have encouraged constitutional sheriffs to monitor elections and launch investigations in efforts to further undermine faith in the security of voting.
apnews.com/article/voting…

The movement’s most prominent group is the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association.

One member of CSPOA who was involved in efforts to undermine the 2020 election was Sheriff Christopher Schmaling of Racine County, Wis.

In 2021, Schmaling recommended charging five members of the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission with misconduct and fraud for measures they took to facilitate coronavirus safety protocols for voters living in nursing homes.
jsonline.com/story/news/pol…

A year later, Schmaling did not investigate or recommend charges against a resident who illegally requested multiple absentee ballots to prove election fraud is possible, instead blaming the state’s top election officials.
jsonline.com/story/news/pol…

In May 2022, CSPOA said it was encouraging its members to launch investigations into the 2020 election. Sheriff Dar Leaf of Barry County, Mich., began investigating alleged voter fraud, with other inquiries opened by sheriffs in Arizona, Kansas, and Wisconsin.

We’ve submitted public records requests in more than a dozen states to the offices of sheriffs — including Schmaling and Leaf — seeking communications with specific election conspiracy theorists and activists such as MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.

We also requested any communications Schmaling may have had in connection with the Wisconsin Assembly’s partisan review of the 2020 election.
americanoversight.org/investigation/…

We’ve also requested records related to the participation of certain sheriffs at the Claremont Institute’s 2022 “Sheriffs Fellowship,” a week-long meeting of constitutional sheriffs.
americanoversight.org/documents?docu…

Learn more about our investigation in Barry County, Michigan, here:
americanoversight.org/american-overs…

Learn more about our ongoing investigation here:
americanoversight.org/investigation/…