Wis. elector defendants seek change of venue
A group of Wisconsin Republicans who posed as presidential electors following the 2020 election are asking a judge to have their cases brought to individual courts in the counties they reside in.
Liberal law firm Law Forward alleges that the Republicans broke several criminal and civil laws when they met at the state Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign official-looking documents asserting that Trump won the state.
A lawsuit was filed in May 2022 alleging the group’s actions helped set the stage for the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The lawsuit was filed after the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission unanimously decided not to sanction the Republicans.
The Democratic plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit include Khary Penebaker and Mary Arnold, two of the official electors who cast votes for Biden.
Defendants include Andrew Hitt, Robert Spindell, Bill Feehan, Kelly Ruh, Carol Brunner, Scott Grabins, Kathy Kiernan, Darryl Carlson, Pam Travis, Mary Buestrin, James Troupis and Kenneth Chesebro.
Hitt was the chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin at the time. Spindell is a member of the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
During a status hearing Monday, Andrew Goehre, who represents most of the defendants, said his clients want to break up the case and have it heard in the counties where they live.
Hitt and Troupis live in Dane County. The others live in other Wisconsin counties or outside of the state.
Chesebro, a Boston attorney who represents himself, said he would likely join the change of venue petition.
Jeff Mandell, an attorney with Law Forward, said Monday he plans to amend the lawsuit filed 10 months ago.
Dane County Circuit Court Judge Frank D. Remington gave Mandell until the end of the week to do so and the defendants until May 15 to respond.
Attorney Steven Biskupic, who is representing Hitt, said he plans to respond to the amendment.