Nevada judge dismisses fake electors case

A Nevada judge on Thursday dismissed felony forgery charges against six Republicans who falsely claimed to be the state's legitimate presidential electors in 2020, ruling that prosecutors failed to prove the defendants intended to deceive government officials. Clark County District Judge Mary Kay Holthus found the evidence insufficient to support a reasonable inference of fraudulent intent, marking the latest legal setback in efforts to prosecute so-called fake electors across multiple states.

The case centered on a December 2020 ceremony where six Republican electors, including Nevada Republican Party Chairman Michael McDonald and former Clark County Republican Party Chairman Jesse Law, gathered outside the state legislature to sign a certificate declaring Donald Trump the winner of Nevada's presidential election. President Joe Biden had won the state by more than 30,000 votes. The certificate was submitted to federal and state officials, including the U.S. Senate and the National Archives.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat who is currently running for governor, announced felony charges against the group in December 2023. The defendants were charged with offering a...