Wisconsin prosecutors have brought new charges against two attorneys and an aide to President-elect Donald Trump, accusing them of submitting false paperwork claiming Trump had won the battleground state in the 2020 election. Jim Troupis, Kenneth Chesebro, and Mike Roman initially faced a single felony forgery charge in Wisconsin, but now each of them faces 10 additional felony charges for attempting to defraud the Republican electors who cast their ballots for Trump that year.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of six years in prison and a $10,000 fine for each charge. The defendants are scheduled for their initial court appearances, and their attorneys have not responded to requests for comment. The state charges in Wisconsin are the only ones filed, and none of the electors have been charged. The defendants, along with the electors, settled a lawsuit brought against them in 2023.
The fake electors scheme has also led to charges in other states, including Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, and Georgia. Federal prosecutors investigating Trump’s involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot have said that the scheme originated in Wisconsin. Electors play a crucial role in presidential elections, representing voters in the Electoral College, which certifies the election outcome.
The Wisconsin complaint outlines how Troupis, Chesebro, and Roman created a document falsely stating that Trump had won Wisconsin’s Electoral College votes and attempted to deliver it to then-Vice President Mike Pence. The majority of the electors said they signed the elector certificate to preserve legal options in case the election outcome changed in court. However, they did not consent to their signatures being presented as if Trump had won without a court ruling.
Troupis has filed motions to dismiss the charges, arguing that the actions taken by the Republican electors were legal and meant to preserve options pending a court ruling. He also contends that federal law should take precedence in the case and questions the jurisdiction of state courts in election crimes prosecution.
The charges in Wisconsin were brought by Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, in June. The fake elector efforts were a focal point of a federal racketeering indictment against Trump for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. However, special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon the case, citing Trump’s return to the White House as a barrier to federal prosecution.
Trump faces similar charges in Georgia, where he is accused of participating in a scheme to illegally overturn the 2020 election. He is seeking to have the case dismissed, arguing that state courts lack jurisdiction over him once he returns to the presidency. The legal battles surrounding the 2020 election continue to unfold as Trump prepares for his return to office.
