(Source: MIRS.news, Published 07/18/2023) Sixteen Michigan residents – including former Republican party co-chair Meshawn Maddock – have been charged with felonies for their role in the alleged false electors scheme following the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
Each of the 16 electors have been charged with two counts each of forgery and election law forgery and one count of uttering and publishing, as well as conspiracy to commit each of those offenses. They each face up to 14 years in prison if they are convicted as charged.
In announcing the charges, Attorney General Dana Nessel said the defendants met Dec. 14, 2020, in the basement of the state’s Republican Party headquarters and signed multiple certificates claiming they were the “duly elected and qualified electors for president and vice president of the United States of America” for Michigan’s 2020 election. The false certificates were sent to the National Archives and Congress.
“That was a lie,” Nessel said. “… They carried out these actions with the hope and belief that the electoral votes of Michigan’s 2020 election would be awarded to the candidate of their choosing instead of the candidate that Michigan voters actually chose.
“The false electors’ actions undermined the public’s faith in the integrity of our elections and not only violated the spirit of the laws … but we believe, also plainly violated the laws by which we administer our elections in Michigan,” the Democratic AG said, noting it would be malfeasance if her department failed to act.
Nessel said her office has not ruled out charging additional defendants.
Tuesday’s announcement reflects the most serious charges to date against those who tried to overturn former President Donald Trump’s loss in Michigan.
President Joe Biden bested Trump by 154,000 votes – 3 percentage points.
In addition to Maddock, the defendants are:
- Kathy Berdan, 70, of Snover, and the GOP’s national committeewoman in 2015 who was listed on the fake certificate as “chairperson, electoral college of Michigan.”
- William “Hank” Choate, 72, of Cement City, former chair of the Jackson County Republican Party and chair of Michigan GOP’s 7th District
- Amy Facchinello, 55, a Grand Blanc Community Schools board member
- Clifford Frost, 75, of Warrant, a former candidate who served on the Michigan GOP state committee
- Stanley Grot, 71, Shelby Township clerk
- John Haggard, 82, of Charlevoix, a 2016 Republican elector who was a plaintiff in a suit related to the 2020 election
- Mari-Ann Henry, 65, of Brighton, who was involved with the Greater Oakland Republican Club
- Timothy King, 56, of Ypsilanti, the lead plaintiff in a legal effort spearheaded by Trump ally Sidney Powell to overturn the 2020 election
- Michele Lundgren, 73, of Detroit, a former House candidate who lost to incumbent Rep. AIYASH
- James Renner, 76, of Lansing, one of two names not originally nominated by the state’s Republican Party to serve as an elector if Trump won
- Mayra Rodriguez, 64, of Grosse Pointe Farms, an attorney facing a complaint before the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board, who is listed as the “secretary” on the certificate
- Rose Rook, 81, of Paw Paw, a former leader within the Republican Party
- Marian Sheridan, 69, of West Bloomfield, the GOP’s grassroots vice-chair
- Ken Thompson, 68, of Orleans, one of two names not originally nominated to serve as an elector
- Kent Vanderwood, 69, Wyoming mayor
Efforts to reach the defendants were not successful.
In response to Tuesdays announcement, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes said the Republicans’ actions were an attempt to “undermine the very foundations of our democracy, and their actions are a stain on the proud history of our state and the rule of law.”
Nessel initially opened an investigation into the “false slate of electors” following the 2020 election, but referred it to federal prosecutors.
Nessel re-opened her investigation in January.
