A Michigan judge has dismissed criminal charges against 15 individuals accused of signing false certificates declaring Donald Trump the winner of the state’s electoral votes in the 2020 election.
District Court Judge Kristen Simmons announced the decision Tuesday in Lansing, marking another setback for prosecutors seeking to hold Trump allies accountable for efforts to overturn the election results.
The group, often referred to as “fake electors,” had faced charges for submitting documents that claimed Trump, rather than Joe Biden, carried Michigan in 2020. Biden won the state by more than 150,000 votes.
The ruling adds to a series of legal challenges for prosecutors. In May, an Arizona judge sent a similar case back to a grand jury, and in Nevada, proceedings remain stalled after a jurisdictional dismissal last year.
The Michigan dismissals further highlight the difficulties prosecutors face in pursuing cases tied to Trump’s push to dispute and overturn the 2020 election outcome.
