Charges Against 15 Defendants Dropped
A Michigan judge has dismissed criminal charges against 15 individuals accused of signing false certificates in 2020 declaring Donald Trump the winner of the state’s electoral votes. Trump lost Michigan and the presidency to Joe Biden. Judge Kristen Simmons ruled Tuesday that prosecutors had not provided sufficient evidence to prove the defendants acted with criminal intent. “This is a fraud case, and we have to prove intent,” she said. “And I don’t believe there’s evidence sufficient to prove intent.”
Part of a Broader Legal Struggle
The decision marks another setback for prosecutors pursuing cases tied to the so-called “fake elector” scheme. Similar prosecutions have faltered in other states: Arizona’s case was returned to a grand jury in May, Nevada’s remains tied up in a jurisdictional appeal, and Georgia’s effort faces uncertainty after a court questioned the Fulton County district attorney’s role. At the federal level, the election interference case against Trump was dropped following his reelection.
Background of the Michigan Case
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged 16 individuals more than two years ago, alleging they secretly met in the Michigan Republican Party’s headquarters on December 14, 2020, and signed documents falsely claiming to be the state’s “duly elected and qualified” presidential electors. One defendant’s charges were dropped in exchange for cooperation, leaving 15 to face trial. Prosecutors argued the group knowingly attempted to subvert Michigan’s certified results. Some defendants maintained they acted as a contingency in case Trump’s legal challenges succeeded.
Reactions to the Dismissal
Nessel sharply criticized the ruling, saying the evidence clearly showed the defendants lied and sought to undermine the votes of millions of residents. She added that her office is considering whether to appeal. Michigan Republican Party Chair Jim Runestad welcomed the decision, calling it “a huge win for these electors but also for justice itself.” The ruling underscores the continuing political and legal divisions over efforts to overturn the 2020 election.