'A real deterrent': Ex-prosecutor explains why Michigan false elector case means so much

Not everyone understands the importance of the recent Michigan fake elector case, according to a former federal prosecutor.

Renato Mariotti said Tuesday the Michigan AG’s charges against fake electors "are more important than you might realize."

"Our electoral system is run at the state level, and as we saw in the last election, there is room for bad actors to get to subvert the process," the lawyer wrote. "These charges will be a real deterrent."

Mariotti added that it's important that we "remember that the 'fake electors' aren’t billionaires." He drew a distinction between how a normal, everyday person responds to criminal charges versus what former President Donald Trump has been doing.

"They’re not raising money off of these criminal charges. These charges won’t lead to fortune or fame," he then added. "They’re GOP party operatives who will be devastated by an indictment like a typical person is."

The former prosecutor said, "Getting indicted isn’t fun."

"It is a stressful, costly, and humiliating experience. Just like the charges of individual January 6th insurrectionists, these charges may deter foot soldiers who would consider joining an effort to overturn the *next* election," Mariotti noted.

He concluded:

"So they matter more than you think. A lot of Trump’s followers stayed home when he urged them to turn out after he was indicted. The indictments of January 6th insurrectionists had something to do with that. Charges against fake electors could have a similar effect."