Racine County DA’s office investigating possible illegal campaign finance scheme between Trump and Adam Steen

RACINE, WI — The Racine County District Attorney’s office is investigating an alleged illegal campaign finance scheme between former president Donald Trump‘s campaign, several Wisconsin county Republican parties, and Adam Steen.

Steen ran against Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in 2022 and lost by 260 votes.

DA investigating possible illegal campaign finance scheme

According to a press release from Racine County DA Tricia. Hanson, the Wisconsin Ethics Commission (WEC) found probable cause to refer a possible case against the Friends of Adam Steen Campaign Committee.

“Copies of the entire investigation have been requested,” the release reads. “Review of those materials will allow District Attorney Hanson to determine if additional investigation is needed, if a special prosecutor is needed, and if charges will be issued.”

Hanson has 40 days to decide, and the WEC is prepared to take the case to the Wisconsin Department of Justice if the illegal campaign finance complaint isn’t prosecuted in 60 days.

Trump campaign allegedly colluded with Steen

At the heart of the complaint are allegations that Trump’s campaign schemed with Rep. Janel Brandtjen (R-Menominee Falls) to illegally funnel donations over $1,000 to county Republican parties who sent the money to local campaigns.

According to a story from Wispolitics.com, WEC recommended charges against Brandtjen, Steen’s campaign, workers with Save America, and at least three county Republican parties.

Save America is Trump’s fundraising organization, according to the Federal Elections Commission.

Wisconsin election laws limit campaign donations to $1,000 or less, but county parties can donate unlimited amounts to candidates. State law prohibits candidates from accepting that money if they know funding comes from groups that don’t belong to the candidate, the Wispolitics story continues.

According to a source who asked for anonymity, Steen fundraisers were instructed to tell donors sending in $1,000 or more to send the money to Langlade and Chippewa counties.

Wispolitics obtained copies of the WEC report, which states donors were told to write “63” in the memo line of the donation, the story reads. This way, county party leaders would know to send those funds to the Steen campaign.

Vos represents the 63rd Assembly District.

Specifically, Steen’s campaign is accused of illegal campaign finance activity by accepting over $40,000 from the Langlade County GOP, $5,000 from Save America through Chippewa County, and another $5,000 through the Florence County Republican Party.

Steen raised more than $174,000 for his 2022 campaign against Vos, the source told Racine County Eye, despite Steen claiming he barely had enough money to cover a direct mail campaign.

Hanson underscored the importance of a quick and thorough investigation.

“Due to the importance of how the conduct alleged impacts the integrity of elections in Racine County, all efforts will be made to reach a decision quickly,” she wrote.