Michigan Judge Dismisses Charges for 15 in 2020 Fake Electors Case

Charges Against 15 Individuals in Michigan Fake Electors Case Dismissed

A significant ruling in Michigan has resulted in the dismissal of charges against 15 individuals who were accused of certifying Donald Trump as the winner of the 2020 presidential election falsely. This ruling represents a notable point of contention for prosecutors managing similar allegations in four additional states.

District Court Judge Kristen D. Simmons delivered the decision, stating that the defendants, many of whom are affiliated with the Michigan Republican Party, will not face trial. The charges were filed by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel over two years ago and had been under review for an extended period.

Each of the accused faced eight counts of both forgery and conspiracy related to election fraud, with the most severe potential penalties reaching 14 years in prison. It was alleged that in December 2020, these individuals gathered at the Michigan GOP headquarters to sign a document asserting they were "duly elected and qualified electors," despite the fact that President Joe Biden won Michigan by nearly 155,000 votes, as established by a GOP-led investigation conducted in 2021.

Electors are pivotal within the U.S. Electoral College, which comprises 538 members responsible for the formal election of the president. In 48 states, electors cast their votes according to the results of the popular vote, with the exceptions being Nebraska and Maine.

Among the defendants, one individual had his charges dismissed after reaching a cooperation agreement with the attorney general’s office in October 2023. The other 15 maintained their innocence, pleading not guilty and contending that their actions were legally justified.

Judge Simmons took nearly a year to evaluate whether sufficient evidence existed to proceed with a trial, facilitated by a series of comprehensive preliminary hearings.

Legal challenges related to the alleged fake electors scheme are also underway in Nevada, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Arizona. No cases from these states have progressed to trial, many of them facing procedural and appellate hurdles. In Nevada, state prosecutors have invigorated their case against purported fake electors, while in Arizona, a judge returned a related matter to a grand jury. In Wisconsin, a judge has recently declined to dismiss felony charges against Trump associates involved in efforts to create false electoral votes.

The Georgia legal situation remains in limbo as Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis appeals her removal from overseeing the case against Trump and others. Although Trump is still labeled as a defendant, it is unlikely that legal actions would resume against him while he serves in office.

The attempt to create a slate of fake electors was a significant element in the federal indictment against Trump, which was eventually withdrawn earlier this year as he began his second term.