As a hearing in the felony case against a false elector in Wisconsin approaches on Monday, prominent elected officials have highlighted potential misconduct in the proceedings against those charged.
Senator Ron Johnson, R-WI. requested that the Department of Justice review the case against attorney Jim Troupis, who currently faces eleven charges of felony forgery in a case brought by Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul.
Troupis’ attorney, Joseph Bugni, has alleged that Dane County Circuit Judge John Hyland, who is presiding over the case, had a retired judge author an order related to the case. Bugni has also claimed that judges presiding over the case are politically biased against Troupis, leading to Senator Johnson’s request for DOJ review.
“Therefore, I respectfully request that the Department of Justice review Mr. Troupis’ case to determine whether any wrongdoing has occurred,” Johnson wrote in a letter dated Thursday. It’s signed in his capacity sitting on the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. (RELATED: Evers Allies Throws Hat in the Ring for Governor’s Race)
For their part, both Judge Hyland and the retired judge deny allegations that they coordinated in the case. (RELATED: Wisconsin Crime Labs Face Financial Strain Resulting in Longer Turnaround Times)
“I’ve never talked to Judge Hyland about this case either before I retired or after,” retired Judge Frank Remington said. “I did not write any of his decisions or opinions — not one word, not one paragraph.”
The alternate elector scheme, which originated in Wisconsin, resulted in criminal charges just three months after ten Wisconsin electors settled a civil suit that admitted wrongdoing where Troupis agreed to not participate in a fake elector scheme again.
In September, a judge dismissed a similar case against defendants in Michigan, citing a lack of evidence proving fraudulent intent.
