Fact check: Trump lawyer helped Kanye West try to get on Wisconsin’s ballot

On Aug. 4, the rapper made a last-ditch effort to get on the ballot for the Nov. 3 presidential election. West said in July that he would run for president under the “Birthday Party” and has since targeted ballots in several states — including key swing states like Wisconsin.

It remains unclear whether West obtained enough signatures to secure his spot — or if his campaign even filed the paperwork in time. But the attempt has stirred controversy across the state and country.

“The GOP lawyer who helped @kanyewest get on the ballot in Wisconsin is actively working for @realDonaldTrump’s campaign,” stated an Aug. 5, 2020 Instagram post. The account that posted declined further comment.

It remains unclear whether West obtained enough signatures to secure his spot — or if his campaign even filed the paperwork in time. But the attempt has stirred controversy across the state and country.

“The GOP lawyer who helped @kanyewest get on the ballot in Wisconsin is actively working for @realDonaldTrump’s campaign,” stated an Aug. 5, 2020 Instagram post. The account that posted declined further comment.

According to an article from Joseph in Vice, the person seen dropping off West’s paperwork was Lane Ruhland, a lawyer who previously worked for the Republican Party of Wisconsin. Matt Smith, a reporter for WISN-TV in Milwaukee, tweeted a video of Ruhland walking into the state Election Commission’s building a few minutes after the 5 p.m. filing deadline.

Ruhland is also representing Trump’s campaign in a lawsuit against the Democratic super PAC Priorities USA and a Rhinelander, Wisconsin, TV station, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Our ruling: True

We rate this claim TRUE because it is supported by our research. West lined up help from several Republicans in Wisconsin in his effort to appear on Wisconsin’s presidential ballot, including a GOP lawyer who’s representing the Trump campaign in a federal lawsuit.

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Article URL : https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/08/07/trump-lawyer-helped-kanye-west-try-get-wisconsins-ballot/3313650001/