Presidents Pardons Encourage Those Working to Undermine Elections, Do Not Affect Ongoing State Prosecutions, including in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. – In response to today’s revelation of the fraudulent-elector pardons, Jeff Mandell, President and General Counsel of Law Forward, observed: “Many are dismissing these pardons as merely symbolic. That misses the point. While the pardon has little immediate effect, its purpose is emblematic: it sends an unmistakable message that this White House disdains democracy and will assist, in word and in deed, any effort, no matter how extreme and outrageous, to cling to power regardless of election results.

“Rather than preventing future abuses, the President encourages them with these offensive federal pardons. These pardons, like those earlier extended to the January 6th insurrectionists, invite those who would attack our Republic and dismantle our democracy to keep at it. They also signal that the President’s concerted campaign to undermine the legitimacy of our electoral system will continue unabated. He is taking his cues from extremists actively working to suppress the vote and ensure that their favored candidates hold power, regardless of the will of the voters as expressed in election results,” Mandell continued.

The pardons have little concrete effect, as there are no federal investigations or prosecutions underway. At the state level, however, there are still efforts to hold people accountable, like the effort by the Wisconsin Department of Justice to hold attorneys Jim Troupis, Kenneth Chesebro, and Mike Roman accountable. Troupis and Attorney Andrew Hitt, who chaired the Wisconsin fraudulent-elector meeting, are also facing ethics consequences after Law Forward filed complaints with the Office of Lawyer Regulation.

Law Forward has been at the forefront of demanding accountability for efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. In February 2021, Law Forward was the first organization to file complaints against the fraudulent-elector scheme, including administrative complaints with the Wisconsin Elections Commission, an ethics complaint with the Office of Lawyer Regulation, and a criminal referral to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office. In spring 2022, Law Forward filed the nation’s first civil lawsuit about the scheme, and that case unearthed facts showing that the national fraudulent-elector scheme began here in Wisconsin, with Jim Troupis and Kenneth Chesbro and would not have taken place anywhere had it not happened here. The case was ultimately settled, with the Wisconsin fraudulent electors recanting their false certificates and all defendants, including Troupis and Chesebro, promising not to work for or with Trump again in future elections.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.