Trump Symbolically Pardons Michigan's 2020 GOP Electors

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 11/10/2025) President Donald Trump "pardoned" the 16 GOP electors who faced criminal charges for signing a certificate declaring themselves the "duly elected" electors for the 2020 presidential race.

Trump pardoned 77 "patriots" – including 16 Michigan alternate electors, according to a list published late Sunday on X by U.S. Justice Department Pardon Attorney Ed Martin.

"Let their healing begin … Important wet (not autopen) pardon," Martin wrote in separate X posts.

But, Attorney General Dana Nessel and elections attorney Mark Brewer both said a federal pardon does not apply to the state charges Nessel's office brought against the Michigan GOP alternate slate.

"In 2020, President Trump launched an all-out assault against American democracy in his efforts to overturn the presidential election results and preserve his hold on power," Nessel said. "Today, President Trump pardoned more than 70 individuals, many of whom authored, executed, or otherwise knowingly assisted the President's plot and efforts to overturn the election. Any other characterization of this outrageous slate of pardons is only a further attack on our sacred ideals of a government by, for and of the people."

Those named on Trump's list include former Republican national committeewoman Kathleen Berden and former co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party Meshawn Maddock as well as dozens of others from multiple battleground states where Trump and his allies challenged Democrat Joe Biden's victory.

In Michigan that year, Trump lost 48 percent to 51 percent, which was certified by county canvassing boards and the Board of State Canvassers.

Trump wrote that the proclamation "ends a grave national injustice perpetrated upon the American people" and noted that he was granting a "full, complete, and unconditional pardon" to all citizens for organizing and submitting "any slate or proposed slate of presidential electors" as well as their conduct relating to efforts to "expose voting fraud and vulnerabilities" in the 2020 election.

Nessel charged the 16 GOP electors in July 2023, but dismissed charges against James RENNER, who testified at the preliminary examinations for the remaining 15.

In September, Ingham County District Judge Kristen Simmons dismissed the cases, saying the AG's office did not have enough evidence to establish that the GOP electors had intent to commit fraud as charged.

Nessel said her office "continues to review" Simmons' decision. However, she noted that her office has "issued demands" for transcripts of the hearings, but "despite repeated efforts to secure these transcripts, necessary for our decision-making, we have received no contact from the Court nor even acknowledgment of our requests."

Nessel added: "Since the District Court did not provide a written order explaining the reasons for its decision, the transcript of the ruling is the sole official record of the reasons for the District Court's decision. We have not yet received this record. Once we have the transcript of the District Court's ruling, we will decide whether to file an application for leave challenging the District Court's failure to bind over the false slate."   

A message seeking comment on whether the AG plans to appeal Simmons' ruling was not returned today.

Breaking: President Trump pardoned the 2020 Alternative Electors.

Thank you: POTUS for allowing me, as U.S. Pardon Attorney, to work with WhiteHouse, along with AGPamBondi, DAGToddBlanche & SG John Sauer, to achieve your intent—let their healing begin. Federalist74 ⚖️pic.twitter.com/rDOtgpapCB

— Ed Martin (@EdMartinDOJ) November 10, 2025

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