Wisconsin ethics panel recommends felony charges against Trump fundraising committee, lawmaker
The commission alleges that Trump’s fundraising committee and state Rep. Janel Brandtjen, a Trump ally, conspired in a scheme to evade campaign finance laws to support the Republican primary challenger to [state House Speaker equivalent, Robin Vos] in 2022.
...
Trump and Brandtjen backed Vos’s primary opponent, Adam Steen. Trump called Steen a “motivated patriot” when endorsing him shortly before the 2022 primary. Vos, the longest-serving Assembly speaker in Wisconsin history, defeated Steen in the primary by just 260 votes.
Steen is currently backing an effort to recall Vos from office.
The ethics commission alleges that Trump’s Save America political action committee, Brandtjen, Republican Party officials in three counties and Steen’s campaign conspired to avoid state fundraising limits in the effort to defeat Vos, steering at least $40,000 into the bid.
The ethics commission recommended that charges be brought against the Trump fundraising committee, Brandtjen, Steen’s campaign, eight other individuals and three county Republican parties. The commission alleges that those involved took advantage of Wisconsin laws that allow for unlimited donations to political parties, but then illegally steered the money to Steen. State law caps individual donations to Assembly candidates at $1,000.
Members of the ethics commission said in documents sent to county prosecutors that if they don’t initiate charges within 60 days, the commission will go to another district attorney or the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
Some additional info in this one - https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/02/23/wisconsin-ethics-commission-alleges-illegal-scheme-by-trump-fundraising-committee-and-rep-janel-bran/72711365007/
Does this have any teeth or is it another furrowed brow?
Wisconsin has a Democratic (read: law following) AG, so this is almost certainly going to result in felony charges for several WI state level Republicans* and three county Republican party organizations. It doesn't actually affect Trump at all, but a bunch of his Wisconsin cronies are in serious trouble at least.
*One of whom is an elected lawmaker, the other individuals idk but they're at least heavily involved in the WI GOP
Oh man, as a resident, out fucking standing. LFG Mr. Kaul