• A Michigan judge has dismissed charges against 15 individuals accused of being 'fake electors' during the 2020 election.
• Judge Kristen Simmons stated there was insufficient evidence to show criminal intent in the defendants' actions.
• The defendants were attempting to certify Trump as the winner despite Biden's victory in Michigan by over 155,000 votes.

A Michigan judge has dismissed criminal charges against 15 Republicans who allegedly attempted to falsely certify Donald Trump as the winner of the 2020 election. District Court Judge Kristen D. Simmons ruled that the defendants did not possess the intent to commit fraud in signing certificates stating they were the state's duly elected electors, expressing that the individuals were acting under a sincerely held belief that there were election irregularities. "This is not an election interference case," the judge clarified during the hearing, emphasizing the lack of evidence for intent to defraud anyone, according to ABC News, Los Angeles Times, and NPR.

The charges stemmed from a meeting in December 2020 at Michigan GOP headquarters, where the group signed documents falsely declaring themselves as electors. Despite these actions, Judge Simmons noted that there was minimal sophistication in their understanding of the electoral process. She stated that the evidence did not prove the defendants were knowledgeable enough to comprehend their potential wrongdoing, citing that "the document presented doesn't even align with the level of sophistication" assumed by the prosecution, as reported by The Hill and BBC.

Attorney General Dana Nessel expressed disappointment with the ruling, stating that it undermines accountability for what she deems a coordinated effort to overturn the election results. Nessel remarked, "The evidence was clear: They lied... and they tried to steal the votes of millions of Michiganders," emphasizing the seriousness of their actions. The case against the defendants, who initially faced multiple charges including forgery and conspiracy with significant penalties, reflects broader issues within several states regarding similar allegations linked to the 2020 election, according to Los Angeles Times, The Hill, and BBC.