Michigan plows ahead with cases against 2020 'fake electors' as Trump's own cases collapse

Prosecutors in Michigan are plowing ahead with trying to charge Republican electors who signed onto a document in 2020 falsely declaring Donald Trump the winner over Joe Biden, even as cases against the president-elect collapse.

The Michigan Attorney General's Office on Monday filed several briefs asking a judge to advance charges to trial against MAGA allies in the state, The Detroit News reported Monday night. Kim Bush, a spokeswoman for Dana Nessel, the attorney general, told the newspaper that the case against the so-called "fake electors" is still active, despite Trump's election.

The news comes as special counsel Jack Smith on Monday asked to have federal election subversion cases against Trump dismissed.

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The Michigan case revolves around the activities of Republicans who in December 2020 falsely claimed Trump won the battleground state's 16 electoral votes.

"Knowing that they did not win the election, they agreed to each sign a fraudulent certificate claiming that they had won the election and that they were Michigan’s electors, and purporting to cast Michigan’s electoral votes," prosecutors said in their filing Monday, according to The Detroit News. "They did this with the intent to present the document and have it used in lieu of the legitimate votes that day."

She added: "This was an agreement to commit forgery, uttering and publishing and election law forgery with specific intent."

Sixteen Republicans faced charges in the case, 15 of which remain ongoing. James Renner of Lansing took a deal in his case and charges against him were dropped.