Michigan Judge Throws Out Charges Against Trump 'Fake Electors,' Citing Jurisdictional Flaw

In a significant legal development sending ripples through the ongoing national debate over the 2020 election, a Michigan judge has delivered a substantial blow to prosecutors by dismissing all charges against 15 individuals accused of serving as "fake electors" for Donald Trump. The ruling, issued by Judge Kristen McMillan of the 54-A District Court, hinged on a critical jurisdictional argument, asserting that the alleged criminal acts did not take place in Ingham County, where the charges were filed.

The core of Judge McMillan's decision centered on the location of the alleged crimes, specifically forgery and conspiracy to commit election law forgery.

While the prosecution contended that the scheme aimed to disrupt the lawful transfer of power in Michigan's capital, Lansing (which is within Ingham County), the judge found that the actual signing of the false electoral certificates occurred elsewhere – notably, in a different Michigan county, and the documents were subsequently sent to Washington D.C., not to Lansing.

This geographical disconnect proved fatal to the prosecution's case in Ingham County.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office, which brought the charges, expressed immediate disappointment and vowed to appeal the decision. Nessel’s team had argued passionately that the intent behind the "fake elector" scheme was to undermine the electoral process within the state's seat of government, thereby establishing a legitimate basis for jurisdiction in Ingham County.

However, the court remained unconvinced, underscoring the precise legal requirements for establishing venue in criminal proceedings.

For the defense, this ruling represents a considerable victory. Lawyers for the accused had consistently argued that the charges were not only legally unsound but also lacked proper jurisdictional grounding.

Among the 15 individuals initially charged were prominent Michigan Republican Party figures, including former co-chair Meshawn Maddock and former state GOP chair Kathy Berden, all of whom had signed documents falsely claiming to be Michigan's legitimate presidential electors following the 2020 election.

This Michigan case is one piece of a much larger national mosaic of legal actions targeting efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.

Similar "fake elector" cases are progressing in states like Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia, alongside the significant federal charges filed against former President Trump himself. The Michigan dismissal, while specific to a jurisdictional point, highlights the complex legal hurdles faced by prosecutors in these unprecedented cases.

Despite this setback, the battle is far from over.

The Attorney General’s office remains resolute in its commitment to pursuing accountability, indicating that the jurisdictional issue will be challenged in higher courts. The outcome of the appeal will undoubtedly set a precedent for future legal strategies in similar cases across the nation, making this development a crucial chapter in the ongoing legal aftermath of the 2020 election.