Wisconsin is once again in the mix as former President Donald Trump and 18 others were indicted on charges of racketeering in Georgia.

The charges are the result of Trump’s attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election, culminating in the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. While the focus of the investigation is on Trump’s efforts to flip Georgia’s electoral votes, the indictment refers to a similar plan in Wisconsin.

The indictment comes from the Fulton County prosecutor in Georgia. The charging document alleges a conspiracy, hatched by Donald Trump and his associates, referred to as the “enterprise.” The plan was to have Republicans in key battleground states sign up as a slate of false electors to delay the certification of Joe Biden as President.

The prosecutor says Acts 39 and 46 of the conspiracy involved Jim Troupis, a prominent Wisconsin Republican lawyer. A memo urging him to get a slate of false electors to meet in Wisconsin on December 14, 2020.

Act 39 in the Georgia indictment of former President Donald Trump and 18 other individuals references a memo sent to Wisconsin attorney Jim Troupis. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

Acts 50 and 64 involve memos and a meeting with Brian Schimming, the current chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

The documents say Schimming was given proposed language for the false elector documents. During a meeting two days before the real electors met, Schimming was on a phone call with Trump lawyer and co-defendant Rudy Giuliani, where he was told to keep news of the false electors away from the media.

Act 50 and Act 64 in the Georgia indictment of former President Donald Trump and 18 other individuals references communications with Brian Schimming, chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

Schimming did not answer questions about the Georgia indictment during a press call on Aug. 15, 2023, but issued a statement that read:

“As stated previously, Republican electors met in accordance with state statutory guidelines, on the advice of attorneys, and with precedent, to preserve all legal options still pending before the courts. Had the courts ruled differently, the alternate electors would have been needed.”

Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming issued a statement on Aug. 15, 2023 responding to the state of Georgia’s indictment of former President Donald Trump and 18 others. (Credit: Screenshot courtesy of WisconsinEye)

However, Act 107 of the conspiracy says the false electors were not for the courts, but for January 6. It said Republicans were to contest the counting of electoral votes during the joint session of Congress. Then-Vice President Mike Pence was to not open any votes from Wisconsin and five other states, declare the electoral votes in dispute. and allow the false electors to swing the election to Trump.

Two Wisconsin Republicans — U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua and U.S. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau — did object to counting the electoral votes from two other states, but not Wisconsin.

A top aide for Wisconsin Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson tried to coordinate a meeting with Pence to hand over Wisconsin’s slate of false electors, but the vice president’s staff said no.

The count was stopped during the insurrection, but ultimately the correct votes were counted and Joe Biden became president.