Wisconsin officials listed as potential witnesses in Kenneth Chesebro election interference trial

Jessie Opoien, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·2 min read
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Kenneth Chesebro is an active pro-Trump lawyer who allegedly helped coordinate the plan to recruit fake electors. He faces charges of violating the RICO act, conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer, conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree and other charges.
Kenneth Chesebro is an active pro-Trump lawyer who allegedly helped coordinate the plan to recruit fake electors. He faces charges of violating the RICO act, conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer, conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree and other charges.

MADISON — The list of potential witnesses for attorney and Trump co-defendant Kenneth Chesebro's Georgia election interference trial includes several Wisconsin officials as the state remains at the center of the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.

Chesebro is one of 18 defendants charged along with former President Donald Trump last month with violating Georgia's racketeering laws in an effort to overturn the results of President Joe Biden's election win. All 19 have pleaded not guilty.

Chesebro and attorney Sidney Powell were separated from the case and will have a joint trial starting Oct. 23. Chesebro faces seven charges related to his plan to put forward slates of false electors from swing states including Georgia and Wisconsin.

Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee hears motions from attorneys representing Ken Chesebro and Sidney Powell in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023.
Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee hears motions from attorneys representing Ken Chesebro and Sidney Powell in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023.

His plan was spelled out after the election in a memo dated Nov. 18, 2020 — the same day Trump asked for recounts in Dane and Milwaukee counties.

On Dec. 14, 2020, Democrats met in the state Capitol to lawfully cast the state's 10 electoral votes for Biden. At the same time, 10 Republicans gathered in another part of the Capitol to fill out paperwork claiming Trump had won. They submitted their filings to Congress, the National Archives, a federal judge and then-Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette.

Wisconsin's fake electors have said they held the meeting to ensure the state's electoral votes were cast for Trump if a court later determined he was the true winner of the state.

Several of the false electors were party leaders in their county or congressional district at the time but no longer hold those positions.

One, Bob Spindell, remains a Republican appointee to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. He is one of the potential witnesses listed in a Thursday court filing by Chesebro's attorneys.

Bob Spindell, a Republican member of the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
Bob Spindell, a Republican member of the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

Andrew Hitt, then-chairman of state Republican Party, was also on the fake electors slate and is listed as a potential witness.

Other potential witnesses with Wisconsin ties include Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul, Republican Party of Wisconsin chairman Brian Schimming, RPW executive director Mark Jefferson, GOP attorney Joe Olson, attorney George Burnett, attorney James Troupis and WEC chairman Don Millis. Also on the list are Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty president and general counsel Rick Esenberg, WILL senior counsel Brian McGrath, WILL deputy counsel Luke Berg and WILL associate counsel Katherine Spitz.

Biden defeated Trump by about 21,000 votes in Wisconsin. The results of the election have been upheld by multiple recounts, court rulings and a report from a conservative law firm.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin officials listed as potential witnesses in Chesebro trial