Wisconsin Fake Elector Case Advances as Defendants Plead Not Guilty

• •Three former Trump aides face felony forgery charges for the 2020 fake elector scheme.
• •Defendants argue they were preserving legal options for Trump, not committing a crime.
• •The prosecution is one of the last active cases against those involved in the election interference.

Three former Trump aides, including James Troupis, pleaded not guilty to felony forgery charges in Wisconsin related to a scheme to falsely certify electoral votes for Donald Trump in the 2020 election. The charges stem from actions taken after the election, where they allegedly misled Republican electors into believing their votes were contingent on court challenges. The prosecution, led by Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, is one of the last standing cases against participants in the fake elector plot amid a shifting political landscape. Trump, who has regained the presidency, previously issued pardons to those involved in the scheme, complicating the legal proceedings. The defendants face 11 felony charges, each carrying potential penalties of up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The case has drawn attention as it reflects ongoing tensions surrounding the 2020 election and the subsequent January 6 Capitol attack.