A Nevada judge dismissed all charges Thursday against six Republicans accused of submitting a false certificate declaring Donald Trump the winner of the state’s 2020 presidential election, marking the fourth swing-state prosecution of alternate electors to collapse.
The case against Nevada GOP chair Michael McDonald and five other Republicans accused of forgery and filing false instruments ended after more than two years of legal wrangling. All six had pleaded not guilty to charges brought by Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford, who is currently running for governor.
Prosecutions Failing Across Swing States
Nevada joins Arizona, Michigan and Georgia in failed attempts to criminally prosecute Republicans who signed alternate elector certificates in 2020. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes dismissed her case in June but promised to seek new indictments through another grand jury — a legal maneuver designed to bypass procedural deadlines after losing an appeal.
The pattern raises questions about whether prosecutors misjudged the legal strength of these cases or rushed charges for political effect. Each prosecution targeted Republicans who participated in preparing alternate elector slates while Trump’s campaign challenged 2020 results in court — a practice both parties have used in contested elections, though the 2020 certificates were submitted after state certifications became final.
What Happens Next
Ford’s office has not announced whether it will attempt to revive the Nevada case. The dismissal comes as Ford campaigns for governor, potentially complicating any decision to pursue new charges that could be viewed as politically motivated prosecution.
The defendants included McDonald and other Nevada Republican officials who signed a certificate stating they were “the duly elected and qualified Electors” from Nevada, despite Biden’s certified victory in the state. Prosecutors argued the certificate was fraudulent because it falsely claimed Trump won Nevada’s electoral votes.
Defense attorneys in multiple states have argued the alternate certificates were contingent on legal challenges succeeding and represented legitimate dispute of election results, not criminal fraud. The wave of dismissals suggests judges and prosecutors are finding those arguments persuasive — or at least finding the cases legally insufficient to sustain criminal convictions.
Key Points
- Nevada judge dismissed forgery charges against six Republicans who signed alternate 2020 elector certificate
- Case marks fourth failed prosecution of alternate electors across swing states including Arizona, Michigan and Georgia
- Democratic AG Aaron Ford, now running for governor, brought charges that defendants argued represented legitimate election dispute
https://www.courthousenews.com/judge-drops-nevada-case-against-electors-accused-of-forging-certificate-in-2020-election/ – August 14, 2026
