An aide and two lawyers representing President-elect Donald Trump face 10 additional felony charges in connection with an alleged scheme to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Wisconsin, according to a report from The Associated Press.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice filed the new charges on Tuesday against attorney Jim Troupis, campaign attorney Kenneth Chesebro, and Trump’s election day director Mike Roman. The three were initially charged with a single count of forgery in June.
The charges stem from allegations that the defendants attempted to defraud 10 Republican electors by drafting and submitting a document falsely declaring Trump the winner of Wisconsin’s 2020 election.
According to the complaint, a majority of the 10 Republican electors signed the document under the impression that their signatures would only be used if a court overturned the state’s certified election results. However, the complaint states the defendants sought to submit the fraudulent document to then-Vice President Mike Pence during the congressional certification process.
The Wisconsin DOJ accused Troupis, Chesebro, and Roman of knowingly misleading the electors as part of the broader scheme. Each of the new felony charges carries a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
In response, Troupis filed motions arguing that the charges should be dismissed, claiming the fake elector documents were simply an effort to “preserve Trump’s legal options” and did not constitute a crime. Troupis also asserted that Wisconsin’s attorney general lacked the authority to bring these charges.
The Wisconsin case is part of a larger investigation into similar fake elector schemes across the country. Individuals connected to the scheme have faced charges in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, and Georgia. Notably, the 10 Republicans who falsely claimed to be Wisconsin electors settled a lawsuit last year.
As part of the settlement, they formally acknowledged that President Joe Biden won the 2020 election. The additional charges underscore the mounting legal consequences for those involved in attempts to undermine the election results.
With felony counts piling up, the case signals growing accountability for participants in the coordinated efforts to overturn Biden’s legitimate victory. As the legal proceedings continue, Wisconsin’s role in the nationwide fake elector plot remains a critical focal point in the aftermath of the 2020 election.