** News Roundup: Real Consequences for Fake Electors
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Four years ago next week, Trump supporters posing as electors in seven swing states signed and submitted false certificates claiming that the former president had actually won their state. In recent days, many of those fake electors have faced new charges for their efforts to thwart the will of voters and keep Trump in power.

In a legal settlement on Wednesday, the 10 fake electors from Wisconsin formally acknowledged ([link removed]) that Joe Biden had won the state and agreed ([link removed]) not to serve as presidential electors in 2024 or in any future election in which Trump is on the ballot.
* The civil settlement was reached in a lawsuit ([link removed]) filed last year by two of Wisconsin’s valid electors against the state’s fake electors, alleging that the pro-Trump electors had conspired to defraud voters.


In Nevada, a grand jury on Wednesday indicted the state’s six fake electors ([link removed]) . Among them are the chairman and vice president of the Nevada Republican Party ([link removed]) , as well as several other high-ranking Republican state officials. Nevada is the third state ([link removed]) to press charges against fake electors.
* In July, Michigan’s attorney general charged ([link removed]) the state’s 16 fake electors with multiple felonies, including forgery and conspiracy to commit election forgery.
* The district attorney in Georgia’s Fulton County has also filed charges against ([link removed]) some of the state’s fake electors as part of the county’s larger election interference case. Several other of Georgia’s fake electors were granted immunity ([link removed]) in the Fulton County district attorney’s investigation.


On Friday, CNN ([link removed]) reported that Kenneth Chesebro — the Trump attorney who had pleaded guilty ([link removed].) in the Georgia case for his role in devising the fake electors scheme — is now cooperating with investigators in Wisconsin and Michigan “in hopes of avoiding more criminal charges.”
* Chesebro, who authored memos about the fake electors scheme, was one of six unindicted co-conspirators ([link removed]) mentioned in the federal indictment of Trump.
* Last week, the Washington Post ([link removed]) reported that Chesebro was planning to meet with investigators in Arizona and Nevada. Chesebro is listed as a witness ([link removed]) on this week’s Nevada indictment.
* Chesebro’s cooperation in Wisconsin was a potential indication ([link removed]) that the state’s attorney general is investigating the fake electors scheme as well.
* According to the Washington Post ([link removed]) , Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is scheduled to meet with Chesebro on Monday as part of an investigation in that state.


American Oversight first obtained ([link removed]) copies of the fraudulent electoral certificates — from Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — in March 2021. More recently, we obtained emails ([link removed]) from early 2021 showing the National Archives and Records Administration alerted officials in several states that the fake certificates had been submitted.

Wisconsin Open Meetings Lawsuit
Last week, a Wisconsin judge granted ([link removed]) Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos’ motion to dismiss the open meetings portion of our lawsuit ([link removed]) against Vos and his panel of former state Supreme Court justices — but our public records claims will continue.
* In dismissing the claims, the judge concluded that, because the statute provides a 20-day period for the district attorney to act, the court lacked competence to hear our claims. He also found, based on the allegations outlined in our complaint, that the panel would have “plainly violated the open meetings law.”
* “Importantly, our public records suit will continue and we will fight to ensure that the public has a complete understanding of Vos’ impeachment efforts,” said American Oversight’s Executive Director Heather Sawyer. “As to the open meetings claims, we appreciate Judge Remington’s careful consideration of the issues and will be considering all of our options.”


On the Records

EagleAI in Georgia
Last week, Columbia County in Georgia agreed to use software called EagleAI that is being pushed by election deniers as an alternative to the Electronic Registration Center, a nonprofit organization that helps states clean up their voter rolls.
* The New York Times reported ([link removed]) on the agreement, citing records obtained by American Oversight and Documented that show Georgia state officials’ concerns about EagleAI’s security and effectiveness.
* Voting rights experts have warned that software like EagleAI could be used to challenge valid voter registrations — an issue that has already been playing out in Georgia ([link removed]) and other states.


Other Stories We're Following

Election Denial and Voting Rights
* A deluge of violent messages: How a surge in threats to public officials could disrupt American democracy (CNN ([link removed]) )
* Tax cuts, teacher pension increases at stake after misinformation-led challenge to 2023 election (Votebeat Texas ([link removed]) )
* In face of threats, election workers vow: ‘You are not disrupting the democratic process’ (Stateline ([link removed]) )
* Eligible voters are being swept up in conservative activists' efforts to purge voter rolls (CBS News ([link removed]) )
* Voting rights groups push for answers from Mississippi election officials about ballot shortages (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Restoring voting rights after a felony is rare in Tennessee. This year, the process got harder. (Tennessee Lookout ([link removed]) )


In the States
* GOP lawmakers propose abolishing Wisconsin Elections Commission, giving duties to secretary of state (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ([link removed]) )
* Wisconsin Republican leader opposes GOP bill to disband bipartisan elections commission (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Members of Landry transition team operated illegal waste dump for years, lawsuits claim (News from the States ([link removed]) )
* Conservative consulting group rebrands with new name after leader met with white supremacist Nick Fuentes (Texas Tribune ([link removed]) )
* A report rips Disney for freebies to its local board. It omits gifts to top Florida politicians. (NBC News ([link removed]) )
* Police trainers used sexist language and glorified violence, videos show (New York Times ([link removed]) )FDLE fires employee who sought whistleblower protection amid dispute over DeSantis records (Tallahassee Democrat ([link removed]) )


LGBTQ Rights
* Emails reveal how a hospital bowed to political pressure to stop treating trans teens (ProPublica ([link removed]) )
* Privacy concerns persist in transgender sports case after Utah judge seals only some health records (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* How conflicting Missouri and federal laws on gender-affirming care put ‘hospitals in a bind’ (KCUR Kansas City ([link removed]) )
* Wash U alleges Missouri AG illegally sought patient records from transgender center (Missouri Independent ([link removed]) )
* Gov. Evers vetoes Wisconsin bill banning gender-affirming care for kids (CBS News ([link removed]) )


Abortion and Reproductive Rights
* West Virginia places anti-abortion pregnancy center coalition at the helm of $1M grant program (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* New Hampshire Republicans propose '15-day' abortion ban (NBC News ([link removed]) )
* Wisconsin judge reaffirms July ruling that state law permits consensual abortions (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* In victory for abortion rights, Dane County judge rules 19th century law does not ban abortions in Wisconsin (Wisconsin Public Radio ([link removed]) )
* Post-Roe, nearly 1 in 5 people seeking an abortion traveled out of state, analysis finds (CNN ([link removed]) )
* A Texas judge grants a pregnant woman permission to get an abortion despite the state’s ban (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Court pauses federal policy allowing abortion clinic operators to get grants — but only in Ohio (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Indiana attorneys debate overreach, obligation to ‘protect unborn’ in latest abortion ban hearing (Indiana Capital Chronicle ([link removed]) )


Threats to Education
* In final AP African American studies curriculum, some topics DeSantis blasted are gone (Miami Herald ([link removed]) )
* AP African American studies adds lesson on sports and racial justice (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Arkansas educators examine revised AP African American Studies curriculum (Arkansas Advocate ([link removed]) )
* First organizations are certified to provide private scholarships to Nebraska K-12 students (Nebraska Examiner ([link removed]) )
* ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’ on curriculum content introduced in the Ohio Senate (Ohio Capital Journal ([link removed]) )
* Republican leaders of Wisconsin Legislature at odds over withholding university pay raises (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Group calls for Ryan Walters to resign over video on prayer at Prague Elementary (Oklahoman ([link removed]) )
* Prosecuting teachers and librarians for ‘obscene’ books sought in bill (Wisconsin Examiner ([link removed]) )


Government Transparency and Public Records Law
* Defying presidents and Congress, the ATF, DEA, FBI and U.S. Marshals shroud their shootings in secrecy (NBC News ([link removed]) )
* Citizen-initiated government transparency act proposal submitted to Arkansas Attorney General (Arkansas Advocate ([link removed]) )


Immigration
* Whistleblower alleges failures in medical care at US border facilities (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Texas' illegal entry law will test states' powers on immigration, border enforcement (NPR ([link removed]) )
* Federal judge poised to prohibit separating migrant families at US border for 8 years (Associated Press ([link removed]) )


Trump Accountability
* Prosecutors intend to show long pattern of threats and baseless claims by Trump (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Trump pardoned them. Now they’re helping him return to power. (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Trump declines to rule out abusing power to seek retribution if he returns to the White House (Associated Press ([link removed]) )


Jan. 6 Investigations
* Special counsel alleges Trump ‘sent’ supporters on path to Jan. 6 violence (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Defending his 2020 fraud claims, Trump turns to fringe Jan. 6 theories (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Special counsel to use Trump’s continued embrace of January 6 rioters against him at trial (CNN ([link removed]) )
* Trump appeals ruling denying his immunity claims in his federal election interference case (NBC News ([link removed]) )

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