Michigan's False Elector Case Dismissed, Leaving Trump-Led Conspiracy Unpunished

Attorney General Dana Nessel says she won't appeal the judge's decision, citing lack of evidence for criminal intent.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Michigan's Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that the state will not appeal a judge's decision to dismiss charges against 16 individuals who signed documents attempting to certify Michigan's slate of electors for Donald Trump in 2020, despite Joe Biden's victory in the state. Nessel said she still believes the false electors committed crimes, but concluded the resource-intensive case would be unlikely to ultimately succeed. She also said it was 'fundamentally unjust' to continue prosecuting lower-level participants in an effort she said was led by former President Trump, who is unlikely to face his own criminal charges.

Why it matters

The dismissal of the false elector case in Michigan highlights the challenges in holding accountable those involved in efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, even as evidence suggests a broader conspiracy led by Trump. The decision not to appeal the judge's ruling raises questions about the ability to pursue such cases and the potential for future election-related crimes to go unpunished.

The details

In July 2023, 16 individuals were charged, primarily with offenses related to forgery, for signing documents attempting to certify Michigan's slate of electors for Trump despite Biden's victory in the state. The charges included Shelby Township Clerk Stan Grot and Meshawn Maddock, former co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party. A judge later dismissed the charges, saying prosecutors had not presented enough evidence to prove criminal intent. Nessel's office concluded an appeals court would likely have sided with the prosecutors, but proving the element of criminal intent could have been 'more complicated'.

  • In July 2023, 16 individuals were charged for signing documents attempting to certify Michigan's slate of electors for Trump.
  • In September 2023, a judge dismissed the charges against the remaining 15 defendants, saying prosecutors had not presented enough evidence to prove criminal intent.

The players

Dana Nessel

The Attorney General of Michigan who announced the state will not appeal the judge's decision to dismiss the charges against the false electors.

Stan Grot

The Shelby Township Clerk who was one of the 16 individuals charged in the false elector case.

Meshawn Maddock

The former co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party who was one of the 16 individuals charged in the false elector case.

Kristen Simmons

The judge who dismissed the charges against the remaining 15 defendants, saying prosecutors had not presented enough evidence to prove criminal intent.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who Nessel said was the leader of the criminal conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results in Michigan, though he is unlikely to face his own criminal charges.

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What they’re saying

“We considered that Michigan's Republican elector nominees, who eventually became Michigan's false slate, did not design or demand this criminal conspiracy. As shown by the Report of Special Counsel Smith regarding these matters, this was indeed Trump's criminal conspiracy.”

— Dana Nessel, Attorney General of Michigan (alternet.org)

“The dismissal of the false slate charges does not change the facts, and it does not change history. What Michigan's false slate did was wrong.”

— Dana Nessel, Attorney General of Michigan (alternet.org)

The takeaway

The dismissal of the false elector case in Michigan highlights the challenges in holding accountable those involved in efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, even as evidence suggests a broader conspiracy led by former President Trump. The decision not to appeal the judge's ruling raises questions about the ability to pursue such cases and the potential for future election-related crimes to go unpunished.