Judge refuses to drop Michigan fake elector charges after defendants called 'brainwashed'

Defendants accused of taking part in a fake elector scheme aimed at overturning Michigan’s 2020 election result will not have their charges dropped after the state’s attorney general said they were “brainwashed.”

A judge ruled on the case Friday after motions to dismiss charges were filed by defendants Clifford Frost and Mari-Ann Henry, the Associated Press reported.

They are among 16 people prosecutors say signed a document falsely claiming to be the state's “duly elected and qualified electors.” They have been hit with criminal charges including forgery.

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Their lawyers said the case should have been thrown out after Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel in September referred to them as, “These are people who have been brainwashed” into believing Trump had won.

Their attorneys argued that this showed there was no criminal intent behind their actions.