Michigan Files Felony Charges Against 16 ‘Fraudulent’ Trump Electors for Violation of Election Laws and Forgery

Michigan’s Attorney General has initiated felony charges against 16 Republicans who falsely acted as electors for former President Donald Trump during the 2020 elections, alleging that they sent counterfeit certificates claiming their authenticity as electors, notwithstanding Joe Biden’s triumph in the state.

On Tuesday, Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat, proclaimed that the group of 16 would confront eight criminal charges, encompassing forgery and scheming to orchestrate election forgery. The punishments for these crimes could range from five to 14 years imprisonment for each individual.

Among the accused are prominent figures such as Kathy Berden, the leader of the Republican National Committee’s Michigan branch, ex-co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party, Meshawn Maddock, and Shelby Township Clerk, Stan Grot.

Nessel expressed in a statement, “The illegitimate electors’ actions have shaken public confidence in our election system’s reliability. We assert that they also unmistakably breached the rules governing our elections in Michigan.”

Electors are delegates assigned to represent the voting population in presidential elections. The party’s electors are selected based on the state’s popular vote winner, who then proceed to the Electoral College in December, following the election, to affirm the results.

It is purported that this group convened within the then-Michigan Republican Party headquarters on December 14, 2020. They appended their signatures to multiple certificates, falsely affirming their eligibility as Trump’s electors. These counterfeit documents were subsequently dispatched to Congress and the National Archives.

Nessel implored federal prosecutors to launch a criminal investigation into these 16 Republicans last January.

In seven swing states, including Michigan, Trump supporters signed certificates erroneously declaring Trump’s victory in their respective states over Biden.

While these fabricated certificates were disregarded, their submission prompted investigations, including those conducted by the House committee that investigated the Capitol insurrection on January 6.

Trump was falsely declared the victor in seven states, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, through the submission of counterfeit Electoral College certificates.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Michigan Election Forgery Charges

More about Michigan Election Forgery Charges

• 2020 Presidential Election Results
• Michigan Department of Attorney General
• Electoral College Process
• Role and Functioning of Electors
• Details about the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection