Wisconsin
Wisconsin is the last state that may prosecute Trump’s fake electors, but AG Josh Kaul is mum
Video shows fake electors meeting in the Wisconsin Capitol
A newly released video shows the gathering of Wisconsin’s fake electors on Dec. 14, 2020, in the state Capitol.
Dane County Circuit Court records
After Arizona became the fourth state to bring charges against fake electors involved in the Trump campaign’s alleged scheme to overturn the 2020 presidential election Wednesday night, eyes turned to the three remaining states where the effort took place: New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Officials in New Mexico and Pennsylvania have said they are unlikely to prosecute Trump allies who sent documents to then-Vice President Mike Pence purporting to certify Trump won the election in their state, because those fake electors placed certain limits on their claims. That leaves Wisconsin as the state most likely still to pursue charges.
Prosecutors had already filed charges in Michigan, Nevada, and Georgia. In Georgia, defendants include Trump himself, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. And Trump is facing federal charges in Washington, D.C. for conspiracy and obstruction related to the nationwide fake elector scheme. Trump has asked the Supreme Court to declare him immune from those charges.
The top law enforcement official in Wisconsin hasn’t tipped his hand on whether his office is investigating the issue at all, but he also hasn’t ruled out prosecution.
Gillian Drummond, a spokesperson for Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, said the department “does not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation, except in unique public safety circumstances” but that Kaul “believes that those who committed crimes in an effort to unlawfully subvert the outcome of an election should be held accountable.”
Wisconsin was key in the Trump campaign’s fake elector scheme
Ten Wisconsin Republicans signed a document falsely saying they were “the duly elected and qualified electors” for the state, that they had met in Madison, and all had voted for Trump. But they weren’t duly elected or qualified because voters in Wisconsin chose Biden by a margin of just under 21,000 votes.
The fake elector scheme was largely rooted in on a memo that came out of Wisconsin, where a recount in the close race was underway, according to the U.S. Department of Justice indictment of Trump. The memo advocated that a slate of Trump electors should meet and vote for him in case Trump won the recount.
The indictment said Trump’s campaign and others “took the Wisconsin memo and expanded it” to states that Trump said he was contesting, “even New Mexico, where the defendant had lost by more than ten percent of the popular vote.”
Biden won the recount, and Wisconsin’s governor, Democrat Tom Evers, declared Biden’s electors the legitimate ones from the state.
The fake electors wrote in their certificate that they met and voted for Trump on Dec. 14, 2020, the same day that the state supreme court rejected the Trump campaign’s legal challenge. State officials continued rejecting the false claim that Trump won Wisconsin.
While the 10 Wisconsin fake electors have not faced criminal charges, two of the legitimate electors from 2020 sued them along with two lawyers, Jim Troupis and Kenneth Chesebro, involved in the scheme. The Republicans settled the case.
“This is a scheme to overturn the election that was launched here in Wisconsin and then metastisized to those other six states,” said Jeff Mandel, a lawyer with the left-leaning group Law Forward, which represented the legitimate electors. He called Troupis and Chesebro “the linchpins of the scheme for the whole nation.”
Electors in Pennsylvania and New Mexico unlikely to face charges
In Pennsylvania and New Mexico, the fake electors didn’t claim to be the real electors, only the electors whose votes should be counted if Trump succeeded in getting their states to reverse his loss − an important legal caveat.
Pennsylvania’s Trump electors wrote that their votes for Trump should only be counted “if, as the result of final non-appealable court order or other proceeding prescribed by law, we are ultimately recognized as being the duly elected and qualified electors.”
That language represented a watering-down of the original fake electors scheme that Trump’s campaign sought, and was something the campaign didn’t want catching on with other states, according to the Department of Justice’s indictment of Trump for his efforts to overturn the election.
“Though their rhetoric and policy were intentionally misleading and purposefully damaging to our democracy, based on our initial review, our office does not believe this meets the legal standards for forgery,” the office of then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro wrote in a statement to Lancaster Online. Shapiro, a Democrat, is now the governor.
Likewise, New Mexico’s Trump electors wrote that their filing was prepared “on the understanding that it might later be determined that we are the duly and elected qualified electors.”
The office New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez performed an investigation but said the conditional language “prevents the filing of criminal charges.” Instead, Torrez, a Democrat, asked the state legislature to pass new laws safeguarding the state’s elections.
Charges in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan and Nevada range from forgery to racketeering
The grand jury in Georgia handed down the most sweeping and serious case involving the fake elector scheme. The case charged 19 people — including Trump, Meadows and Giuliani — in a racketeering case under a law usually reserved for Mafia bosses.
The Arizona grand jury charged 18 people — including 11 fake electors, Meadows and Giuliani — with crimes including conspiracy and forgery. The indictment lists Trump as an unindicted co-conspirator.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat, charged 16 people with counts that included conspiracy to commit forgery and publishing a false record. The indictment named Trump as an unindicted co-conspirator.
In Nevada, a grand jury indicted six fake Trump electors, several of whom were state Republican officials.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin gets its QB in transfer portal by landing Colton Joseph from Old Dominion
Quarterback Colton Joseph is heading to Wisconsin after throwing for more than 2,500 yards and rushing for more than 1,000 yards at Old Dominion this season.
Joseph announced his decision Sunday with an X post that included the message, “On Wisconsin.”
Joseph completed 59.7% of his passes this season for 2,624 yards with 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for Old Dominion, which went 10-3. He also rushed for 1,007 yards and 13 touchdowns on 158 carries.
He didn’t play in Old Dominion’s 24-10 Cure Bowl victory over South Florida after deciding to enter the transfer portal.
Joseph completed 59.9% of his passes for 1,627 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions while making eight starts in 2024. He rushed for 647 yards and 11 touchdowns that season.
Wisconsin has gone to the transfer portal for quarterbacks every year since coach Luke Fickell arrived, though injuries have limited their production.
Tanner Mordecai came over from SMU in 2023 but missed 3 1/2 games with a broken hand that season. Tyler Van Dyke arrived from Miami the following year but tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the third game of the season. Former Mississippi State quarterback Braedyn Locke started when Mordecai and Van Dyke were injured.
Billy Edwards Jr. transferred from Maryland and opened the 2025 season as Wisconsin’s starter, but he sprained his knee in the second quarter of the Badgers’ season-opening victory over Miami (Ohio).
Edwards returned to start Wisconsin’s Sept. 20 loss to Maryland but got hurt again and didn’t play the rest of the season. San Diego State transfer Danny O’Neil, Southern Illinois transfer Hunter Simmons and freshman Carter Smith each started multiple games after Edwards’ injury.
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Wisconsin
Purdue basketball opts for backup plan, results in beating Wisconsin
Purdue basketball coach Matt Painter on Braden Smith’s assist record
Hear what Purdue basketball coach Matt Painter said after beating Wisconsin Saturday, Jan. 3.
MADISON, Wisc. ― Matt Painter came to the Kohl Center armed with two different defensive strategies.
Purdue basketball opted for choice No. 2 after choice No. 1 resulted in the Badgers scoring 22 points in the first nine minutes.
A season after watching Wisconsin go 20-for-22 on two-point field goals at Mackey Arena, the Boilermakers were in the midst of seeing a repeat performance when the Badgers started 8 of 10 inside the arc Saturday, Jan 3.
“To start the game the first eight minutes, they were just living in the paint, making good decisions,” Painter said. “They got a lot of layups. Then we switched to hedging and tried to keep the ball out of there. There’s some risk either way. That seemed to help us.”
The final score ― Purdue 89, Wisconsin 73 ― would indicate as much.
When Painter sifted through a roster in the preseason he believes has more than five starters, Cox’s ability to win that gave him a nod.
Drills. Scrimmages. Whatever it was, Cox always seemed to be on the winning side.
“That matters,” Painter said prior to Purdue’s season opener in November.
Cox is a capable scorer, evidenced by his 14 points, but his main priority is defense.
In a first half where Cox watched four good looks come off the rim, the sophomore guard still maintained winning attributes that championship teams cherish. He had two steals in nine minutes, the first coming after Wisconsin scored on four straight possessions.
That allowed Purdue to counterpunch the Badger’s 9-2 run to start the game.
“When you can keep throwing those punches and keep battling back, eventually, you’re going to knock them out,” said senior guard Fletcher Loyer, who led the Boilers with 20 points.
Purdue has no shortage of offensive haymakers it can throw.
During its five-game winning streak, the Boilers have walled up opponents to match.
Purdue held four straight opponents to 60 or fewer points prior to Saturday night. Wisconsin’s strong start was a damper in that streak continuing, but Purdue was prepared.
WATCH Purdue basketball’s Braden Smith on Big Ten assist record, win streak
Hear what Purdue basketball point guard Braden Smith said after breaking Cassius Winston’s Big Ten assist record at Wisconsin Saturday, Jan 3.
The Badgers started 9 of 13 from the field and finished the night shooting 42.1% after being held to 31% in the second half. The easy twos became challenged 3s. Beyond the arc, Wisconsin went 4 of 25. Purdue finished with eight steals, three by Cox, and forced 11 turnovers.
Saturday’s game likely gets remembered at season’s end as the night Braden Smith broke the Big Ten’s career assist record.
What will get lost is a defensive adaptation that altered how the final 30-plus minutes went in a road win that can be as valuable as found gold in a Big Ten championship quest.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for Dec. 28, 2025
Manuel Franco claims his $768 million Powerball jackpot
Manuel Franco, 24, of West Allis was revealed Tuesday as the winner of the $768.4 million Powerball jackpot.
Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 28, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 28 drawing
Midday: 1-5-2
Evening: 8-8-5
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 28 drawing
Midday: 0-4-8-8
Evening: 3-8-3-4
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning All or Nothing numbers from Dec. 28 drawing
Midday: 03-04-05-06-07-09-11-13-18-19-21
Evening: 01-02-04-05-06-10-14-15-18-20-22
Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Badger 5 numbers from Dec. 28 drawing
13-16-17-21-31
Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning SuperCash numbers from Dec. 28 drawing
01-02-17-18-21-22, Doubler: N
Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
- Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer.
- Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774.
- Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916.
Can Wisconsin lottery winners remain anonymous?
No, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Due to the state’s open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner. Other information about the winner is released only with the winner’s consent.
When are the Wisconsin Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily.
- Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
That lucky feeling: Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
Feeling lucky? WI man wins $768 million Powerball jackpot **
WI Lottery history: Top 10 Powerball and Mega Million jackpots
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Wisconsin editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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