Supporters of the 15 Republican 2020 presidential electors for Donald Trump, who were charged with attempting to help his campaign overturn the 2020 election results, gathered outside the Lansing 54-A District Court in Lansing. Sept. 9, 2025 | Photo by Kyle Davidson/Michigan Advance

LANSING — A Lansing district court judge said Tuesday that the Republican electors for Donald Trump in 2020, who were accused of fraud and attempting to assist the Trump campaign in overturning the year’s election results, will not face trial.

Lansing 54-A District Court Judge Kristen Simmons concluded there wasn’t sufficient evidence to prove that the 15 individuals, charged with a host of forgery and conspiracy crimes, had criminal intent when they allegedly signed documents certifying Michigan’s electoral votes for Trump.

Simmons dismissed the charges and did not order the cadre to be bound over for trial.

The defendants included Republican National Committeewoman Kathy Berden, former Michigan Republican Party co-chair Meshawn Maddock, Hank Choate, Amy Facchinello, Clifford Frost, Stanley Grot, John Haggard, Mary-Ann Henry, Timothy King, Michele Lundgren, Mayra Rodriguez, Rose Rook, Marian Sheridan, Kenneth Thompson and Kent Vanderwood.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel spoke with reporters in a virtual news conference following the ruling. Although Simmons emphasized the complexity of the case in her decision from the bench, as demonstrated by the lengthy preliminary examination and the amount of evidence reviewed, Nessel argued the case was quite simple.

“The evidence was clear. They lied. They knew they lied, and they tried to steal the votes of millions of Michiganders. And if they can get away with this, well, what can’t they get away with next?” Nessel said.