In a significant development, the ten Wisconsin Republicans who falsely claimed that former President Trump won the 2020 election in the state have conceded that their actions were part of an effort to subvert the election results. This admission came as part of a settlement agreement that was made public on Wednesday.

The group, known as the "fake electors," affirmed that President Biden was the rightful winner of the 2020 election in Wisconsin. They acknowledged that they were not Wisconsin's "duly elected" presidential electors, revoking the false documents they had filed on December 14, 2020. This marks the first instance of pro-Trump electors retracting their false claims.

The false filings made by the group were eventually used in an attempt to wrongly overturn the 2020 presidential election results. In a statement attached to the settlement agreement, the ten Republicans stated, "We oppose any attempt to undermine the public's faith in the ultimate results of the 2020 presidential election."

The settlement arises from a $2.4 million lawsuit filed by Biden's Democratic electors against the Republicans. Under the terms of the agreement, the fake electors will not be held liable for damages or attorney fees. However, there is no admission of culpability or liability on their part.

As part of the settlement, the pro-Trump electors have pledged not to serve as electors in any future election where Trump is on the ballot, including the upcoming 2024 election. Additionally, they have agreed to cooperate with ongoing or future investigations by the Justice Department related to attempts to interfere with the lawful transfer of power or the certification of the 2020 election.

Jeff Mandell, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs, expressed satisfaction with the settlement agreement, stating that it holds the fake electors accountable for their actions and ensures that similar schemes will not be repeated in the future. Mandell emphasized that Wisconsin voters have been awaiting accountability for three years and it is high time that those responsible for this scheme are held responsible.

The scheme orchestrated by the fake electors was spearheaded by Trump lawyer John Eastman and supported by other legal professionals. It relied on former Vice President Mike Pence certifying slates of Trump-supporting electors in battleground states instead of recognizing the legitimate Electoral College votes cast for President Biden.

However, Pence refused to comply with the plan on January 6, 2021, the day of the election certification. In a letter, he stated that his constitutional obligations prevented him from unilaterally determining which electoral votes should be counted. Following Pence's refusal, a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol in protest of the election results and Pence's decision.

Apart from Wisconsin, similar groups of fake electors allegedly convened in Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, and Nevada, falsely claiming to be "duly elected" electors from their respective states. Criminal probes have been launched in some of these states with regards to the actions of the fake electors, although it is unclear whether Wisconsin's investigative authorities are currently examining their conduct.

The case against Wisconsin's pro-Trump electors was initially scheduled to go to trial in September 2024, just two months before the next Presidential Election. With both Biden and Trump expected to run for re-election, the trial would have presented a unique backdrop for their rematch in the political arena.