Michigan Judge Dismisses Charges Against 2020 Alternate Electors

In Michigan, charges against 15 Republicans who submitted an alternate slate of electors for President Donald Trump in the 2020 election were dismissed by Judge Kristen D. Simmons, who ruled that the defendants believed they were acting lawfully and were exercising their constitutional right to seek redress. The defendants faced multiple fraud and forgery allegations linked to their submission of false electoral certificates claiming Trump had won Michigan, but prosecutors failed to prove a conspiracy in court. The judge emphasized constitutional protections for peaceable assembly and petitioning the government, noting that alternate elector slates have historically been used by both major parties. Some commentators cited alleged undue influences on the 2020 election, such as Mark Zuckerberg's $400 million in funding to local election officials and the FBI's suppression of information related to Hunter Biden's laptop, arguing these factors skewed the results. Michigan Democrats had accused the alternate electors of forgery and conspiracy, but the dismissal marks a significant setback for efforts to prosecute those involved. The case highlights ongoing disputes over the 2020 election's legitimacy and the legal boundaries of alternate elector actions.