Kent County, MI - The Kent County Republican Party welcomed yesterday’s announcement from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel that her office will not appeal the dismissal of criminal charges against 15 Republican electors stemming from the 2020 presidential election. 

Last year, Ingham County District Court Judge Kristen Simmons dismissed the charges after ruling that prosecutors had failed to demonstrate criminal intent - a key element required for the fraud-related allegations brought against the defendants. 

By declining to pursue an appeal, the Attorney General has effectively brought the years-long case to a close.

“This announcement confirms what many of us have said from the beginning - this case should never have been brought,” said Kent County Republican Party Chairman Rusty Richter. “After years of legal battles and political rhetoric, the facts have prevailed and these citizens have been fully vindicated. Justice has finally caught up with politics.”

Among those charged was Wyoming Mayor Kent Vanderwood, a longtime public servant and Kent County resident who maintained throughout the process that he and the other electors were exercising their constitutional rights.

The original charges were filed in July 2023, when 16 individuals were accused of forgery and election law violations related to their participation in an alternate slate of electors following the 2020 election. One defendant later cooperated with prosecutors and had charges dropped, leaving 15 remaining defendants whose cases were dismissed in court. 

Chairman Richter said the Attorney General’s decision not to appeal marks an important moment for the rule of law in Michigan.

“For nearly five years these individuals faced the weight of the state’s legal system for actions the court ultimately determined did not meet the threshold for criminal prosecution,” Richter said. “The decision not to appeal closes a painful chapter and allows these men and women to move forward with their lives.”

The Kent County Republican Party reiterated its support for Mayor Vanderwood and the other electors, thanking them and their families for their resilience during the lengthy legal process.

“As Americans, we must ensure that our justice system is never used as a political weapon,” Richter added. “Today’s announcement is an important step toward restoring trust that the law will be applied fairly and equally to everyone.”