Madison, Wisconsin – The legal repercussions are beginning to unfold for those involved in the controversial meeting of Republicans claiming to be Wisconsin’s 2020 presidential electors, despite former President Donald Trump’s loss in the state. Wisconsin’s attorney general, Josh Kaul, filed charges on Tuesday against a former Trump campaign aide, Michael Roman, as well as attorneys Kenneth Chesebro and James Troupis.
These charges mark the first legal action taken in Wisconsin in connection to the meeting of electors. Similar efforts in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, and Georgia have also resulted in separate charges against Republicans involved in these activities.
The trio – Roman, Chesebro, and Troupis – have each been charged with one felony count of forgery, facing a maximum of six years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted. Their initial court appearances are scheduled for September, with the cases likely to extend beyond the upcoming fall election unless plea deals are reached.
Following Trump’s loss in the 2020 election, he sought recounts in Wisconsin’s Democratic-leaning areas in an attempt to invalidate hundreds of thousands of absentee ballots. The state Supreme Court rejected these efforts on a crucial day when presidential electors were set to meet nationwide.
In response to this rejection, 10 Republicans convened at the state Capitol to sign paperwork claiming to be the legitimate electors for Wisconsin. This move, mirrored in other states, led to the submission of falsified paperwork to Congress and the National Archives, fueling false claims challenging the election results and ultimately contributing to the violent events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Public records indicate that Troupis, Chesebro, and Roman played significant roles in devising this elector strategy. Troupis, a prominent lawyer for Wisconsin Republicans, previously served as Trump’s lead attorney for the Wisconsin recount and legal challenge. Chesebro, who documented the Wisconsin meeting on his cellphone, was also charged in Georgia and later pleaded guilty to conspiring to file false documents. Roman, in addition to facing charges in Wisconsin, has also been charged in Georgia and Arizona.
As these legal proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen how deeply the individuals involved in this contested elector meeting will be held accountable for their actions. This developing story will continue to be updated with new information as it emerges.