Fake electors committed crimes against democracy

On August 1, 2023, a federal indictment was issued against Donald Trump, charging him with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding (the certification of the Electoral College vote), conspiracy to

deprive American voters of the civil right to have their votes counted, attempting to obstruct, and actively obstructing, an official government proceeding . The sanctity of the ballot is called out here due to the egregious nature of such an attack on the foundation of our democracy.

The indictment details the roles of six individuals who are alleged to have actively participated in Trump’s conspiracies. These individuals have not (yet) been indicted.

False Electoral College certificates declaring Trump the winner of the 2020 presidential election were generated in seven states, and Michigan was one of those states. Such action should be an affront to all voters, irrespective of party, as it mutes the voice of each individual’s vote on who should govern our country.

The Attorney General of Michigan, Dana Nessel, has brought criminal charges against all 16 people named as “fake” electors in our state. These individuals will face felony charges of conspiracy to commit election forgery and committing election forgery. They were accomplices in Trump’s attack on our election system, fueled by the “Big Lie” that the 2020 election was “stolen”. These fake electors are now facing a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

Donald Trump and his accomplices must be held to account for their parts in these “crimes against democracy”.

Ed Shaffer

Galien