The upcoming Republican National Convention in Milwaukee is poised to feature a controversial lineup of delegates that includes individuals indicted for their roles in efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. These delegates represent battleground states pivotal in the aftermath of the last presidential cycle.
These delegates, accused of being fake electors, are currently facing criminal charges related to their roles in attempts to challenge Joe Biden’s victory in states like Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wisconsin, according to lists published by state parties and other documents obtained by CNN.
Despite their legal challenges, they have been chosen to serve as national committee members, delegates, or alternates with a clear objective: to officially nominate Donald Trump for another presidential run.
This selection underscores Trump’s significant influence in embedding election denialism into the GOP’s core, marking a shift from initial attempts to distance the party from the former president following the January 6 Capitol riot.
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Former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger, now a CNN contributor, commented on the party’s transformation, stating, “Election denialism is like the price of entry now. These people that were in the fake elector scheme, or got a mug shot, they’re now the heroes of the movement, and they’ve taken over the party.”
According to RNC spokesperson Anna Kelly, the delegates are elected by Republican activists at the state level, emphasizing grassroots involvement in the delegate selection process.
In Arizona, for instance, State Senator Jake Hoffman, one of the charged fake electors, has been elected as a Republican National Committee member.
Similarly, Georgia’s delegation includes Amy Kremer, known for organizing the January 6 rally preceding the Capitol attack. Kremer has been appointed to the Republican National Committee.
“We didn’t tell people to go to the Capitol. But the thing was, the people wanted to do something. So people marched to the Capitol,” Kremer said in April, according to the Associated Press. “And we all know what’s happened since then. The federal government has been weaponized against us.”
Kremer told CNN in a statement that she is “honored and excited to be part of a new generation of leadership recently elected to the RNC and am blessed to represent Georgia on the committee.”
“I look forward to working with my fellow colleagues at the RNC to secure our elections and make sure Donald J Trump is elected President in November,” she added.
Michigan’s delegation includes Meshawn Maddock, facing charges related to the election, and Matthew DePerno, who is also navigating legal troubles for alleged involvement in seizing voting machines. Both have denied any wrongdoing.
Despite criticism from the Democratic National Committee, which condemned the GOP’s embrace of far-right extremism, nearly 5,000 delegates and alternates from all states and territories are expected to convene in Milwaukee starting July 15. The convention comes amid a recent restructuring of the Republican National Committee under Trump’s influence, with loyalists now holding key leadership positions.
As the convention approaches, the legal cases against the fake electors are progressing slowly, with dismissals and unresolved charges leaving many free to continue active roles in the political arena. The persistence of baseless claims about the 2020 election being rigged against Trump remains a rallying cry among these delegates.
Some involved in the fake elector scheme have expressed remorse, such as Wisconsin Republicans who recently settled a lawsuit acknowledging Biden’s victory. However, they remain eligible to participate in future party activities, including the upcoming convention.
The convention in Milwaukee represents a critical juncture for these controversial delegates, who are poised to influence the GOP’s future direction amid ongoing legal battles and internal party debate over Trump’s role and legacy.
