MADISON, Wis. — Following a court appearance related to felony charges filed against him, Jim Troupis, a former attorney for Donald Trump in Wisconsin, expressed strong criticism toward the state’s Democratic Attorney General. Troupis characterized the charges as part of a strategic misuse of legal power, labeling it “lawfare,” which he claims has significantly disrupted his life.
Troupis, who was a judge before representing Trump in the 2020 election, was the only one present at the hearing among the three defendants. The others, Kenneth Chesebro, an attorney connected with Trump’s campaign, and Mike Roman, who directed Election Day activities, attended the session via phone.
All three men face 11 felony forgery charges, which could result in a maximum of six years in prison along with a $10,000 fine for each count. A preliminary hearing for the trio has been scheduled for January 28, at which point they will enter pleas during their arraignment, though this date is yet to be confirmed.
After the hearing, Troupis accused Attorney General Josh Kaul of perpetuating a harmful agenda that undermines public confidence in the justice system, asserting that Kaul is engaged in political maneuvering through court proceedings. He described the impacts on his personal life, stating that his family has faced relentless attacks on their reputation and that his professional relationships have suffered thanks to the scrutiny his actions have drawn.
In response, Kaul released a statement indicating that all actions taken in the case are based strictly on the facts and applicable law, asserting confidence in the judicial process. He emphasized that disputes will be resolved as part of the legal proceedings.
Troupis defended the decision of Republican electors to meet, arguing it was a necessary precaution in case a court decision favored Trump in Wisconsin. “We believed this would come to a conclusion back in November, yet this misuse of the judicial system persists in Wisconsin,” Troupis lamented.
The court has mandated that Troupis, Chesebro, and Roman refrain from communicating with the ten electors involved or three others referenced in the criminal filing. The defendants accepted these conditions and were allowed to exit without needing to post bail.
The charges focused on the three defendants are the only legal actions that have gone forward against Trump’s legal team in Wisconsin, and thus far, none of the electors involved have been formally charged. Earlier this year, the ten Wisconsin electors, along with Chesebro and Troupis, resolved a civil litigation case.
Meanwhile, separate but relevant legal matters stemming from the fake electors scheme are ongoing in both state and federal courts across Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, and Georgia. Investigators looking into Trump’s alleged involvement in the January 6 Capitol insurrection indicated that the scheme was initially devised in Wisconsin.
The allegations include that Troupis, Chesebro, and Roman participated in drafting documents which falsely claimed Trump had won the state’s Electoral College votes and attempted to present these to then-Vice President Mike Pence for certification.
The charges detail that a majority of the ten electors disclosed to investigators that they believed signing the elector certificate validating Trump’s victory was a contingency plan, meant to protect their legal options should a court subsequently alter the election results in Wisconsin. Many expressed that they did not agree to have their signatures used to declare Trump the victor without a court determination.
Prior to Thursday’s hearing, Troupis and Roman had filed several motions aiming to dismiss the charges, but these were not addressed by the court commissioner during the appearance.
The efforts surrounding the fake electors are at the center of a 2023 federal indictment against Trump, which alleges he attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Recently, the special counsel handling the investigation indicated they would drop this case, recognizing that Trump’s anticipated return to the presidency in January would eliminate possibilities for prosecution.
Additionally, Trump faces another indictment in Georgia alongside 18 others, accused of participating in a widespread plan to unlawfully change the outcome of the 2020 presidential vote in that state. Trump is seeking to dismiss this charge, contending that state courts will not hold jurisdiction over him once he regains the presidency next month.
Both Chesebro and Roman stand as defendants in the Georgia indictment against Trump. Roman has entered a not guilty plea regarding the racketeering and conspiracy allegations, as well as several felony counts linked to the fake electors plan in Arizona. Chesebro, however, has pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy to file false documents in a plea deal with Georgia authorities, though he now seeks to overturn this agreement following a recent ruling that dismissed charges against Trump and others.
