Full Breakdown
Investigation Request into Wisconsin Judge Amid Trump Associate's Case
12/13/2025, 4:54:44 AM
Allegations of Judicial Misconduct
Republican U.S. Senator Ron Johnson has formally requested the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate allegations of misconduct against Judge John Hyland, who is presiding over a felony case involving Jim Troupis, a former attorney for President Donald Trump. Troupis, along with two others, faces felony forgery charges related to their involvement in a scheme to submit false elector documents to then-Vice President Mike Pence on January 6, 2021, in an effort to overturn the 2020 election results in Wisconsin.
Troupis, who previously served as a judge in Dane County, claims that Judge Hyland did not independently write an order denying a motion to dismiss the charges against him. Instead, he alleges that Hyland received assistance from retired Judge Frank Remington, whose son works as a law clerk for Hyland. Troupis's attorney, Joe Bugni, has argued that this relationship raises questions about Hyland's impartiality.
Official Responses and Judicial Defense
Judge Hyland has refuted Troupis's allegations, asserting that he and his law clerk authored the order in question without external assistance. In his response, Hyland noted that Troupis's claims lack evidence and highlighted that many of the judges Troupis accused of bias were not in their positions during Troupis's brief tenure on the bench. Remington has also denied any involvement, stating, "I did not write or help write any decisions issued in the case."
In his letter to U.S. Attorney Pam Bondi, Johnson expressed concern over Hyland's ability to impartially adjudicate the case, given the allegations against him. Johnson characterized Troupis as a victim of "blatant political bias" and described the situation as part of a broader "political witch hunt" against Trump associates.
Background on the Charges
The charges against Troupis, Kenneth Chesebro, and Mike Roman stem from their roles in the 2020 fake elector scheme, which aimed to mislead Wisconsin Republican electors about the legitimacy of the documents they signed. Prosecutors allege that the trio deceived the electors regarding the intended use of the certificates, which were part of an effort to falsely claim that Trump had won the state, despite his loss in the 2020 election.
Troupis and his co-defendants have maintained that their actions did not constitute a crime. Similar cases have faced challenges in other states, with some being dismissed or dropped.
Criticism and Opposition
Critics of Johnson's request, including Democratic Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, have argued that the allegations against Judge Hyland are unfounded and serve to distract from the serious nature of the charges against Troupis and his associates. They contend that the request for a DOJ investigation is an attempt to undermine the judicial process and politicize the legal proceedings.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It is difficult to understand how Judge Hyland can make an impartial decision about Mr. Bugni's allegations when he is directly implicated,” — Ron Johnson, U.S. Senator
- “ "It is long past time for the United States Department Justice to enter the proceedings and bring an end to Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul’s obvious political witch hunt.” — Jim Troupis, Former Trump Attorney
The situation remains fluid as the DOJ has yet to respond to Johnson's request, and Troupis is scheduled to appear in court for preliminary hearings related to the charges.
