Trump Attorneys Orchestrated Fake Elector Scheme in Wisconsin, Lawsuit Reveals

Two attorneys for former President Donald Trump orchestrated a plan to install fake electors in Wisconsin and other swing states in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. The revelation comes from a lawsuit settlement that makes public months of texts and emails detailing the schemes origins and coordination with Trump campaign officials.

In a significant development, two attorneys associated with then-President Donald Trump orchestrated a plan involving fake electors to file false paperwork claiming Trump's victory in Wisconsin during the 2020 presidential election. This revelation emerged as part of a lawsuit settlement reached on Monday, making public months of text messages and emails that shed light on the scheme's origins and coordination.

Unveiling the Fake Elector Scheme

Kenneth Chesebro and Jim Troupis, the two attorneys involved, turned over a substantial amount of documents, including emails, text messages, photos, and videos, providing a detailed account of the scheme's origins in Wisconsin. The communications reveal how they, in collaboration with Trump campaign officials, replicated the strategy in six other states, including Georgia, where Chesebro has already pleaded guilty to charges related to the 2020 election.

Settlement Reached in Lawsuit

The agreements reached settle a civil lawsuit filed by Democrats in 2022 against the two attorneys and 10 Republicans in Wisconsin who acted as fake electors. The Republican defendants had already settled in December. Scott Thompson, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys, emphasized the importance of transparency, accountability, and deterrence in preventing such incidents from happening again.

Arcane Laws and Strategic Delays

Chesebro and Troupis, as Trump's attorneys in Wisconsin, utilized obscure laws to rationalize and draft false certificates for the fake electors. Their communications also disclose strategies to delay deadlines for certifying electoral votes and influence public opinion, including floating ideas on conservative talk radio.

Links to Federal Indictment and Investigations

The fake elector efforts hold central importance in an August federal indictment filed against Trump, alleging his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. Federal prosecutors investigating his conduct related to the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot have also indicated that the scheme originated in Wisconsin. Trump faces additional charges in Georgia and has consistently denied any wrongdoing. While Michigan and Nevada have pursued criminal charges against fake electors, there is no known criminal investigation in Wisconsin at this time.

Deep Involvement of Troupis

According to the plaintiffs' attorneys, the documents reveal the profound involvement of Troupis, an attorney who represented the Republican Party of Wisconsin and served as a former judge, in the origins of the fake elector effort. Troupis played a crucial role in drafting memos detailing how to prepare and sign the false certificates.

Communications with Trump's Inner Circle

Although there are no direct communications with Trump in the disclosed documents, there are exchanges with top campaign aides and Trump's attorney, Rudy Giuliani. The documents indicate that Chesebro shared a memo on strategies with Troupis, who then forwarded it to the White House, referring to them as "the real decision makers."

Trump Campaign's Assessment

Trump campaign officials provided assessments of each state's progress on the fake elector plan. An email from Trump campaign associate general counsel Joshua Findlay to Chesebro on December 11, 2020, concluded that Wisconsin appeared to be the most organized state in the scheme.

Origins and Impact

Mary McCord, an attorney with Georgetown's institute who assisted in negotiating the settlement, highlighted that the fake elector scheme originated in Wisconsin and expanded to other states. She emphasized the significant role it played in the narrative that led to the violence on January 6.

Deflecting Blame and Falsehoods

Following the Capitol attack, the attorneys discussed deflecting blame from Trump supporters to other groups, such as the anti-fascist movement. Chesebro suggested that Trump could mitigate the situation by inviting President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for coffee on inauguration morning and attending the virtual inauguration.

The lawsuit settlement and the release of documents have shed light on the intricate details of the fake elector scheme orchestrated by Trump's attorneys in Wisconsin. The revelations underscore the gravity of the efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and highlight the need for accountability and adherence to democratic processes.