DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 16: Dana Nessel, attorney for plaintiffs April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, talks to the news media about U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman's decision today to send a case that could possibly have overturned Michigan's ban on same-sex marriages to trial instead of making an immediate ruling on the matter in a hearing at the U.S. Courthouse October 16, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. The lawsuit was brought by April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, a gay couple who are raising three adopted children together. Michigan passed a constitutional amendment in 2004 that defined marriage as being between a man and a woman. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
On Tuesday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced felony charges against 16 Donald Trump allies who allegedly attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The defendants have been accused of convening a fake slate of Electoral College selectors.
Each offender was charged with eight felony counts, including forgery and conspiracy to commit forgery. They are alleged to have met in the basement of the Michigan GOP headquarters on December 14, 2020, to sign documents stating that they were Michigan’s “duly elected and qualified electors” for president and vice president. Their efforts, in theory, would grant them authority to halt the certification of President Joe Biden as the state’s victor.
The 16 individuals include Michigan GOP Co-Chair Meshawn Maddock, who is married to a state representative and is known to have close ties with Trump. Republican National Committeewoman Kathy Berden was also charged.
During her remarks, Nessel condemned each defendant for lying and threatening the state’s federal election system.
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“The false electors’ actions undermine the public’s faith in the integrity of our elections and not only violated the spirit of the laws enshrining and defending our democracy, but we believe also plainly violated the laws by which we administer our elections in Michigan and peaceably transfer power in America,” she said.
Nessel’s announcement was made hours after Trump received a target letter from special counsel Jack Smith, who is leading the national probe into election fraud claims and the insurrection of the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Smith is expected to indict Trump as early as this week.
Each Michigan defendant has been notified of the charges against them and will soon receive dates to appear for their arraignments, which will take place in the 54-A District Court in Ingham County.
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