Michigan Judge Dismisses Charges Against 15 Trump 'Fake Electors'
A Michigan judge dismissed criminal charges against 15 individuals accused of falsely certifying Donald Trump as the 2020 election winner, citing insufficient evidence of intent.
Overview
- A Michigan judge recently dismissed criminal charges against 15 individuals accused of acting as "fake electors" for President Donald Trump following the 2020 presidential election.
- These individuals, including prominent Republicans, faced eight charges each, including forgery and conspiracy to commit election forgery, for their actions in December 2020.
- District Judge Kristen Simmons cited a lack of sufficient evidence to prove the defendants' intent to commit forgery, leading to the dismissal of the case.
- The Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel had announced charges against 16 alternate electors, with one individual's charges dropped earlier for cooperation.
- Attorney General Nessel expressed disappointment with the ruling and indicated the possibility of an appeal, while Michigan Republicans celebrated the dismissal.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally by focusing on the factual developments of the legal case and presenting diverse perspectives without editorial bias. They report the judge's decision and reasoning, the Attorney General's strong criticism, and the Republican Party's positive reaction, allowing readers to form their own conclusions based on the presented information.
"The charges against Trump were dropped after he won the election, following last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting presidents immunity for much of their conduct in office."
Associated Press"The judge said the actions of the defendants, which included several prominent state Republican Party officials, did not justify the criminal charges which were filed in 2023."
BBC News"The case has dragged through the courts since Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat, announced the charges over two years ago."
CBS News"Judge Kristen Simmons dismissed the charges during a court hearing Tuesday, citing a lack of evidence."
NPR"The case has dragged through the courts since Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat, announced the charges over two years ago."
Associated PressArticles (11)
Center (5)
FAQ
The charges were dismissed because Judge Kristen Simmons found insufficient evidence to prove that the defendants acted with criminal intent to commit forgery or fraud.
Each individual faced eight felony charges, including forgery and conspiracy to commit election forgery, for falsely certifying Donald Trump as the winner of Michigan’s 2020 presidential election.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the charges and expressed disappointment with the ruling, indicating that the state might appeal the decision.
The charges stemmed from a December 14, 2020 meeting where the group allegedly met covertly and signed certificates falsely claiming to be Michigan’s duly elected electors for Donald Trump in an effort to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.
Michigan Republicans celebrated the dismissal, with some defendants, including Meshawn Maddock, insisting they had done nothing illegal and criticizing Attorney General Nessel.
History
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