In a significant move on Monday, President Donald Trump granted a series of pardons that notably included protections for 16 Michigan Republicans. These individuals are being shielded from federal charges related to their actions following the 2020 election, where they attempted to present themselves as legitimate presidential electors despite the state being won by the Democratic ticket.
Trump described these individuals as victims of excessive state actions, emphasizing that they required “immediate relief and freedom from this partisan oppression.” This group includes Meshawn Maddock, a former co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party, along with others who had gathered to sign unofficial documents at the state GOP headquarters. They attempted to submit these as official elector certificates as President-elect Joe Biden’s electors were convening to cast their votes.
Referring to the group as “contingent electors,” Trump defended their actions, stating no laws had been broken. The former president has persisted in challenging the outcome of the 2020 election, despite multiple federal verifications and judicial rulings affirming no evidence of fraud, and with Joe Biden winning Michigan by a margin exceeding 150,000 votes.
The individuals involved argued they were acting as an alternative slate in the electoral college due to ongoing disputes over election results. Trump reiterated, “Although the contingent electors acted lawfully within established Constitutional traditions, many of them are facing years in prison and massive financial and other hardships.” He continued, “At no time in our country’s history have contingent electors or those associated with them been prosecuted criminally for their actions taken to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. These citizens have not violated any law, but instead advanced core Constitutional principles to challenge significant and provable irregularities in the Election.”
While these pardons protect individuals from federal charges, they do not extend to state-level proceedings. Earlier, Michigan’s Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel had brought conspiracy and forgery charges, but these were dismissed in September by Lansing District Court Judge Kristen Simmons, citing insufficient evidence of criminal intent.
Nessel expressed her viewpoint through a statement, emphasizing, “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.” She noted that Trump pardoned over 70 individuals involved in efforts to overturn the election, describing the pardons as a further attack on democratic principles.
Despite the court’s ruling, Nessel is contemplating an appeal but has not committed to a timeline. Meanwhile, Michigan Republican Party Chair Jim Runestad believes the recent court decision should end the state’s legal pursuit, stating, “It never should have been filed. It was total lawfare against political opponents and I’m glad that the president has pardoned people so they can get on with their lives after (Nessel) attempted to destroy them all.”
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