On September 9, 2025, a Michigan judge delivered a ruling that reverberated across the political spectrum and the nation’s ongoing debate over the 2020 presidential election. In a packed Lansing courtroom, District Court Judge Kristen D. Simmons dismissed all criminal charges against 15 Republicans accused of attempting to falsely certify Donald Trump as Michigan’s winner—despite Joe Biden’s clear victory in the state. The decision marks a significant setback for state prosecutors and adds another twist to the complex legal saga surrounding so-called "fake electors" in several battleground states.
The group, which included prominent Michigan Republican figures like former state GOP Co-Chair Meshawn Maddock, had faced eight felony counts each, including forgery and conspiracy to commit election forgery. The most serious charges carried the possibility of up to 14 years in prison. The accusations stemmed from a December 2020 meeting at Michigan GOP headquarters, where the group signed documents declaring themselves the state’s "duly elected and qualified electors" for Trump—despite Biden’s 154,000-vote lead, a result later confirmed by a GOP-led state Senate investigation in 2021.
For over two years, the case wound its way through the courts, drawing intense scrutiny from both sides of the political aisle. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat, announced the charges in July 2023, vowing accountability for what she described as an attempt to subvert the will of Michigan voters. According to the Associated Press, one member of the group had charges dropped in October 2023 after agreeing to cooperate with prosecutors, but the remaining 15 pleaded not guilty and insisted their actions were legal and constitutionally protected.
Judge Simmons, appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2019 and later reelected to her nonpartisan seat, based her decision on a fundamental legal principle: intent. "This is a fraud case, and we have to prove intent. And I don’t believe there is evidence sufficient to prove intent," Simmons said during the hearing, as reported by Detroit Free Press. She noted that the defendants appeared to genuinely believe there were irregularities in the election and that they were exercising their constitutional right to seek redress. "Whether they were right, wrong or indifferent, they seriously believed there were problems with the election," Simmons stated.
The courtroom erupted in emotion as the judge announced her ruling. Supporters, friends, and family members cheered and embraced the defendants. One woman, in tears, hugged another and exclaimed, "We did it." Outside, demonstrators held signs decrying what they called "political lawfare," and supporters described the accused as patriots performing their civic duty.
Yet not everyone was celebrating. Attorney General Nessel was quick to voice her disappointment, calling the decision "very wrong" and "disappointing" in a virtual news conference. She argued that the evidence was clear: "They knew they were not electors. They knew Donald Trump lost, but then they lied anyway. And that is a crime." Nessel maintained that the group’s actions went beyond protest, stating they had knowingly signed documents purporting to be the state’s official electors, transmitted those documents to the National Archives, and sought to circumvent Michigan’s proper election procedures. Her office is now considering an appeal, though the legal threshold to overturn Simmons’ ruling is high and would require proving the judge abused her discretion.
The defense, meanwhile, saw the ruling as vindication. Nicholas Somberg, attorney for Meshawn Maddock, described the prosecution as "a waste of money and a malicious prosecution." Other defense lawyers echoed the view that the charges should never have been brought, with attorney Michael Bullotta arguing, "If James Renner was doing his civic duty, so was my client and the others." Renner, a Republican fake elector who had charges dropped after cooperating and testifying, was described by the judge as the government’s "chief witness." His testimony, Simmons said, indicated a lack of criminal intent, as he believed he was participating in a legitimate political process.
The judge also pointed to the conduct of the defendants as inconsistent with a scheme to defraud. "Typically people who are seeking to defraud or deceive the public do not gather and make a spectacle. That would be weird," Simmons remarked, drawing laughter in the courtroom. She further noted that the alternate elector document "doesn’t state it’s an official document of the state of Michigan, doesn’t contain a certificate of vote, no one attempted to forge the governor’s signature, no one attempted to create a fake seal."
While the Michigan case has now been dismissed, it is part of a broader national story. Prosecutors in Nevada, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Arizona have also filed criminal charges related to fake electors, but none of those cases has yet reached trial, with many bogged down by procedural and appellate delays. The effort to secure alternate slates of electors formed a central pillar of the federal indictment against Donald Trump, but those charges were dropped in November 2024 after Trump’s reelection, with Special Counsel Jack Smith citing the Department of Justice’s policy of not prosecuting a sitting president.
The Michigan case, in particular, has been a flashpoint for partisan tensions. State Rep. Matt Maddock, husband of Meshawn Maddock, promised "retribution" against the attorney general, declaring, "They’re going to pay for what they did to these people." Meanwhile, Marian Sheridan, one of the accused, said the ordeal had left her life "on hold" for two years and damaged her reputation. "In such a short time, you have friends and family who believe somehow that you are a criminal," she lamented.
Legal experts and observers have noted that the case highlights the challenges of prosecuting election-related crimes, particularly when intent is difficult to prove and political passions run high. Simmons made clear that the case was "not about who won the 2020 election, but about the intent of the people charged." She also observed that the defendants acted at the direction of Trump campaign lawyers, who themselves have not been charged in Michigan due to insufficient admissible evidence.
As the dust settles in Lansing, the dismissal leaves open questions about accountability and the boundaries of political protest, especially as the nation heads toward another contentious election cycle. Attorney General Nessel warned that the outcome could embolden future efforts to undermine elections, stating she is "terrified for the 2026 elections" and fears "no American election will ever be fair or free." For now, though, the 15 Michigan Republicans walk free, their legal ordeal over but the broader debate far from settled.
