Michigan 'Fake Electors' Plan Lawsuit Against Attorney General

The group alleges 'malicious intent' behind felony charges related to 2020 election scheme.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 11:39am

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A group of Michigan Republicans who were accused of serving as 'alternate electors' for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election have announced plans to sue the state's Attorney General Dana Nessel and the Department of Attorney General. The group claims the felony charges sought against them were 'malicious' and filed with 'malicious intent'.

Why it matters

The 2020 'fake electors' scheme was a controversial attempt by Trump allies to overturn the election results in key swing states. This lawsuit represents the latest legal battle stemming from those efforts, which have raised concerns about threats to election integrity.

The details

In September 2025, a Lansing district court judge dismissed the felony charges that Nessel's office had filed against the group of Republican 'alternate electors.' Nessel's office later announced it would not appeal the decision, though the attorney general maintained a belief in the defendants' 'culpability.' Now the group plans to file lawsuits alleging 'malicious' prosecution, seeking millions in damages from Nessel personally.

  • In September 2025, a Lansing district court judge dismissed the felony charges against the 'alternate electors'.
  • In early 2026, Nessel's office announced it would not appeal the district court's decision to dismiss the charges.

The players

Dana Nessel

The Michigan Attorney General who filed felony charges against the group of Republican 'alternate electors' in 2020.

Meshawn Maddock

A former co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party who was one of the 'alternate electors' accused in the case.

Erick Kaardal

A lawyer at the Minneapolis-based law firm Mohrman, Kaardal & Erickson, who will be representing the 'alternate electors' in their planned lawsuits.

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What they’re saying

“Dana Nessel, who is perhaps the worst lawyer in the USA, was smart when she decided to not lose — twice — the same case. Dana and her far left persecutors need to learn, perhaps the hard way, that her out of control legal behavior is unacceptable. I am also hopeful that our attorneys will be successful in having her, personally, pay the millions of dollars in damages that her horrible and malicious actions caused.”

— Meshawn Maddock, Former Michigan Republican Party co-chair

“Government officials who weaponize their offices against citizens for political purposes must be held accountable under the law.”

— Erick Kaardal, Lawyer

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to allow the lawsuits filed by the 'alternate electors' to proceed.

The takeaway

This lawsuit represents the latest legal battle stemming from the controversial 2020 'fake electors' scheme, which raised serious concerns about threats to election integrity. The outcome could have broader implications for how such efforts to undermine democratic processes are addressed by the justice system.