Charges Dropped Against Alternate Electors in Michigan
Fifteen Republicans who attempted to overturn the 2020 election results are now free of legal worries after a judge appointed by the Democrats dismissed all charges against them on Tuesday.
District Judge Kristen Simmons stated that prosecutors did not provide sufficient evidence to substantiate eight counts of forgery and conspiracy to commit election forgery against each of the defendants. Interestingly, the sixteenth elector involved chose to cooperate with the investigation in return for lesser charges.
Simmons remarked that the case revolved around election interference. “I think they were exercising their constitutional right to seek relief,” she commented, suggesting that the defendants genuinely believed there were issues with the election.
The Michigan Conservative Union released a statement expressing support for the ruling. They highlighted that Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel had filed eight felony charges in July 2023 against ordinary citizens, including farmers and retirees. Their “offense”? Participating as alternative Republican electors in the election.
Co-defendant Messhun Maddock accused the Attorney General of engaging in what he termed “legal harassment.” He stated, “We all understood from the start that we weren’t breaking any laws. Volunteering as an alternative elector for Donald J. Trump isn’t a crime.” He criticized Nessel for, according to him, corruptly using the law as a means of punishment.
Another co-defendant, Marian Sheridan, also condemned the Attorney General, suggesting that “Dana’s misinformation about alternative electors has crumbled today.” She lamented that the Attorney General had pursued what she described as a politically motivated prosecution against innocent Michigan residents over the past two years.
The individuals targeted included a former Republican National Committee member and a past co-chairman of the Michigan Republican Party.
The MCU stated that alternative elector slates have been used in previous presidential elections. They claimed those 15 Republicans were, in fact, acting to safeguard Michigan from potential vote losses by submitting a backup slate during the contested election.
Related incidents have surfaced in other states, including Nevada, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Arizona, where similar charges are facing other electors.
Attorney General Nessel expressed disappointment at the ruling and indicated her office may consider an appeal. She criticized the Republicans, asserting, “They knew they weren’t electors and that Donald Trump had lost, yet they still chose to lie. That’s a crime.”
Republican House Speaker Matt Hall commented on social media, stating, “These individuals have faced years of targeted political witch hunts, causing financial and emotional stress. Today, justice prevails against political weaponization.”
Ultimately, Judge Simmons was appointed by Michigan’s Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2019.
