A Michigan judge on Tuesday dismissed all charges against 15 Republicans who acted as alternate electors for Donald Trump in the 2020 election, dealing a significant setback to Attorney General Dana Nessel’s prosecution.
District Court Judge Kristen D. Simmons, appointed in 2019 by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, ruled that prosecutors had not demonstrated intent to defraud, a key requirement to send the case to trial.
The defendants faced eight felony counts each, including conspiracy and forgery.
Some of the charges carried potential sentences of up to 14 years in prison.
Nessel had accused the group of attempting to falsely certify Trump as Michigan’s winner, despite Joe Biden’s 154,000-vote victory.
Judge’s Ruling
“This is not an election interference case,” Simmons said from the bench.
The judge stressed that the case hinged on intent and concluded the defendants “seriously believed” there were problems with the 2020 election.
Kristin Simmins
“I believe they were executing their constitutional right to seek redress,” Simmons added.
Simmons noted that the alternate electors met openly at Michigan GOP headquarters and even posed for photos.
“Typically people who are seeking to defraud or deceive the public do not gather and make a spectacle. That would be weird,” she said, drawing chuckles in court.
The judge also said none of the documents attempted to forge the governor’s signature or create a fake state seal.
Reactions in Court
Supporters outside the courtroom cheered as the decision was read.
Some defendants wept and hugged family members. One was heard saying, “We did it.”
Most of the accused are over 70, and several attended the hearing by video due to medical issues.
Meshawn Maddock, a former Michigan GOP co-chair and one of the defendants, called the prosecution a “malicious” attempt to criminalize politics.
“We all knew from day one that we had done nothing illegal or wrong,” Maddock said in a statement.
Her attorney said the case had been a waste of state resources.
Nessel Pushes Back
Nessel called the dismissal “disappointing” and said her office is considering an appeal.
Dana Nessel
“They knew they were not electors. They knew Donald Trump lost, but then they lied anyway. And that is a crime,” Nessel said.
However, legal experts noted the bar to overturn Simmons’ ruling is high.
Broader Context
Prosecutors in Nevada, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Arizona have also filed charges in similar “alternate elector” cases.
Those proceedings remain tied up in appeals and procedural delays.
