Wisconsin Rep. Introduces Resolution to 'Reclaim' 2020 Electoral Ballots

A Wisconsin state legislator introduced a privileged resolution on Tuesday aimed at withdrawing the state's 10 electoral votes for president and vice president in the 2020 election citing "fraudulent intent."

Republican Representative Timothy Ramthun's resolution has little chance of advancing as Wisconsin State Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke ruled out supporting it when it comes before the assembly's Rules Committee.

President Joe Biden won the state of Wisconsin in 2020 with 49.6 percent vote against former President Donald Trump's 48.9 percent. Trump had won the state in 2016.

Ramthun introduced the privileged resolution as legislators were considering Assembly Bill 743, which deals with "Information disclosure by online marketplaces related to high-volume sellers and granting rule-making authority."

The Republican introduced the resolution which was then referred to the Rules Committee.

Ramthun's resolution related to: "Wisconsin election reform and reclaiming the electoral ballots for President and Vice President that were certified under fraudulent intent and purpose."

He submitted the resolution to the assembly's chief clerk and a few minutes later it was referred to the assembly's Rules Committee. The lawmakers then proceeded to a voice vote on Assembly Bill 743, which passed and was sent to the state senate.

Conservative site The Gateway Pundit reported on Ramthun's resolution on Tuesday in an article that called the move "huge breaking news" and said that the Wisconsin State Assembly had voted "unanimously" to advance the resolution. The article also implied that the lawmakers had agreed with the resolution's contents.

State Representative Jim Steineke, who is majority leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly, disputed that characterization on Twitter on Tuesday. Sharing The Gateway Pundit's article, he wrote: "No, no we didn't."

The article had been shared by many Twitter users as of early Wednesday morning.

Steineke, who is also chair of the assembly's Rules Committee, explained the events surrounding Ramthun's resolution in several tweets on Tuesday and appeared to criticize his GOP colleague.

"Rep Ramthun just attempted to pass an Assembly resolution to recall WI's presidential electors," Steineke wrote. "Not only is it illegal, it's just plain unconstitutional. As chair of the Rules Committee, there is ZERO chance I will advance this illegal resolution. #EndofStory."

In a later tweet, Steineke wrote: "Disinformation spreads quickly. Here's what happened in the assembly tonight: Ramthun introduced a resolution with zero support (no cosponsors)."

"B/c it was a privileged resolution, it has to be referred to committee. It was referred to Rules," he went on, saying: "There was no vote on it."

Rep. Ramthun has been vocal in claiming that former President Trump actually won the election—claims also made by the former president himself and some his allies. He has also previously supported the idea of withdrawing Wisconsin's electoral votes, which is not legally possible.

On January 20, Wisconsin State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos stripped Ramthun of his only assigned staffer after Ramthun had falsely accused him of signing a deal with attorneys for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to authorize absentee ballot drop boxes.

The whole GOP assembly leadership team issued a statement in support of Vos' decision, accusing Ramthun and the staffer of spreading lies.

"No matter how much Rep. Ramthun and his staffer believe what they are saying is true, it does not make it so," the statement said. "Sending out communications full of lies is doing disservice to all voters. With so much information to parse through on the internet and in traditional media, we all must do a better job of listening and communicating."

Newsweek has asked the Wisconsin Republican Party for comment.