Recently settled lawsuit documents reveal that two attorneys for then-President Donald Trump devised a scheme involving fake electors to falsely claim Trump had won Wisconsin in an attempt to overturn Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election. The attorneys, along with Trump campaign officials, replicated this strategy in six other states, including Georgia.
The settlement of a civil lawsuit brought by Democrats in 2022 against the attorneys and 10 Republicans in Wisconsin who posed as fake electors shed light on the origins and execution of the plan. The attorneys turned over extensive communications, detailing how they used arcane laws to draft false certificates for the fake electors and strategized ways to delay certifying electoral votes.
While there is no admission of wrongdoing in the settlement, the attorneys agreed to never participate in similar efforts in future presidential campaigns. One of the attorneys also agreed to pay an undisclosed amount to the plaintiffs.
The documents also revealed interactions with top campaign aides and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, but no direct communications with Trump. The scheme, which originated in Wisconsin, has been central to federal investigations into Trump's attempts to overturn the election results.
Following the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, the attorneys discussed deflecting blame from Trump supporters to other groups. Despite investigations finding no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, Trump has continued to propagate falsehoods about the election.
The settlement was announced by legal organizations involved in the case, emphasizing the importance of transparency, accountability, and deterrence to safeguard democracy from such actions in the future.
