A Michigan judge has dismissed criminal charges against a group of individuals accused of falsely certifying President Donald Trump as the winner of the 2020 election in the state. This decision dealt a significant setback to prosecutors as similar cases in four other states have faced complications.
District Court Judge Kristen D. Simmons announced during a court hearing that the 15 Republicans charged will not go to trial. The legal proceedings started over two years ago when Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat, brought forth the charges.
Judge Simmons stated that she did not find evidence of fraudulent intent in the defendants’ actions. She noted that while their beliefs may have been debatable, they genuinely thought there were issues with the election and were exercising their constitutional right to address them.
Each member of the group, which included prominent figures in the Michigan Republican Party, faced charges including forgery and conspiracy to commit election forgery, with potential penalties of up to 14 years in prison for the top felony charges.
After the judge announced the dismissal, supporters, family, and friends of the defendants outside the courtroom celebrated with cheers. Emotions ran high as defendants hugged loved ones and expressed relief. One woman tearfully said, “We did it.”
The accused individuals were alleged to have gathered at the Michigan GOP headquarters in December 2020 and signed a document falsely claiming to be the state’s legitimate electors. However, President Joe Biden’s victory in Michigan by a significant margin was confirmed by a state Senate investigation in 2021.
One of the defendants had their charges dropped after agreeing to cooperate with the state attorney general’s office in 2023. The remaining 15 defendants pleaded not guilty and maintained that their actions were lawful.
The attorney for Meshawn Maddock, a well-known Michigan MAGA activist and former Michigan Republican Party Co-Chair among the accused, criticized the case as wasteful and malicious. He emphasized the need for accountability for those who initiated the prosecution.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel expressed disappointment over the judge’s ruling, calling it a wrong decision. She claimed that the defendants knowingly bypassed proper election procedures, seeking to manipulate the rules.
Judge Simmons, appointed by Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, emphasized that the case was not about the election outcome but the defendants’ intentions. She clarified that it was not an election interference case.
Outside the court, Republican state Rep. Matt Maddock, whose wife was charged, vowed “retribution” against the attorney general for the legal actions taken against the accused individuals.
Prosecutors in Nevada, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Arizona have also pursued criminal charges related to the fake electors scheme. These cases have faced delays and procedural hurdles, with some not progressing to trial stages yet.