A Michigan judge has thrown out felony charges against 15 Republican alternate electors from the 2020 election, delivering a major setback to Attorney General Dana Nessel’s high-profile prosecution.
The decision ends months of legal wrangling that could have sent the defendants—most of them senior citizens—to prison for decades.
Judge Kristin Simmins, appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), ruled that prosecutors failed to prove intent to defraud the government, a requirement under state law for the charges brought.
The electors were accused of submitting an alternate slate of electoral votes for President Donald Trump after the 2020 election results in Michigan were disputed.
Each faced eight felony counts, including forgery and conspiracy, with penalties as high as life in prison.
In court, Simmins stressed that the case hinged on “specific intent crimes” and said evidence did not demonstrate the electors acted with fraudulent purpose.
Instead, she noted that they appeared to believe they were following legitimate legal procedures.
She cited testimony from GOP elector James Renner, who was offered immunity but ultimately weakened the state’s argument. Renner, a former state trooper, testified he would not have joined the meeting had he believed it was unlawful.
The attorney general’s case had faced problems from the outset, according to The Gateway Pundit.
Nessel previously acknowledged in a Zoom call with progressive activists that keeping the trial in Lansing, a heavily Democratic city, would improve her chances of securing a favorable jury.
Critics pointed to the comments as evidence of political bias in the prosecution. Simmins also rebuked Nessel for accusing her of delaying the case, noting the challenges of managing a large group of defendants and extensive testimony.
Evidence presented in court further eroded the state’s claims. During the session at Michigan GOP headquarters, participants even allowed photos to be taken.
Simmins highlighted this lack of concealment, remarking, “People who are committing a crime don’t pose for a photo—that would be weird.”
The state’s lead investigator, Howard Shock, also faltered under questioning. His testimony left the judge visibly frustrated, at times reacting with disbelief to his responses.
Ultimately, Simmins concluded, “This is a fraud case, and I don’t believe there is enough evidence to prove it.”
One figure who drew particular attention was former Michigan GOP co-chair Meshawn Maddock.
While Simmins said Maddock could theoretically have faced charges for her role in organizing the electors, she pointed to public statements Maddock and others made at the time.
They had described their actions as casting an “alternate slate” of electors as a form of political protest, not as an attempt to replace the certified Democratic slate.
The ruling not only dismisses the case but also raises questions about the attorney general’s pursuit of political opponents through the courts.
“They were exercising their constitutional rights to seek redress, and that’s based on the statements of all of the people’s witnesses,” Simmins concluded. “And for those reasons, these cases will not be bound over to the circuit court, and this case will be dismissed.”
For Nessel, the dismissal represents a sharp blow after portraying the alternate electors’ actions as criminal forgery.
For Republicans, it is vindication of their argument that the prosecution amounted to politically motivated “lawfare” against those who challenged the 2020 results.
