Internet divided as judge drops charges against 6 Republicans for declaring Donald Trump winner in 2020
LAS VEGAS, NEBADA: A Nevada state court judge dismissed a criminal indictment against six Republicans accused of submitting certificates falsely declaring Donald Trump the winner of the state's 2020 presidential election.
The case was dismissed on the grounds that the county was not the appropriate jurisdiction for the case.
Judge Mary Kay Holthus dismisses the charges citing wrong venue
At a Friday morning, June 21, hearing in Clark County District Court, Judge Mary Kay Holthus said she was unconvinced by state prosecutors’ arguments that Clark County was the appropriate county to hear the case, The Daily Indy reported.
The electors’ attorneys had argued a more appropriate venue would be in Carson City where the false signing ceremony took place or in Douglas County where the fake elector documents were originally mailed from.
“You have literally, in my opinion, a crime that has occurred in another jurisdiction,” Holthus said, adding “It’s so appropriately up north and so appropriately not here.”
Nevada Attorney General will appeal the ruling in Supreme Court
Immediately after the ruling, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford said the “judge got it wrong” and that his office will appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court.
The ruling marks the first time that a case related to the Trump campaign’s efforts to submit a false slate of electors has been dismissed.
Similar prosecutions are taking place in four other swing states — Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, and Wisconsin — involved in the Trump campaign’s effort to submit a false slate of electors after he lost the 2020 election to President Joe Biden.
Six defendants were indcited on two counts by a grand jury in December
The six defendants: Nevada GOP Chairman Michael McDonald, Republican National Committeeman Jim DeGraffenreid, Clark County GOP Chairman Jesse Law, state party Vice Chair Jim Hindle, Shawn Meehan, and Eileen Rice were each indicted on two counts by a grand jury in December.
They were indicted over their role in submitting fake election documents to federal and state election authorities that purported to cast Nevada’s six electoral votes for Trump.
Lawyers with the Nevada Attorney General’s Office had filed the charges in Clark County and argued that it was an appropriate venue for the case.
Matthew Rashbrook, a lawyer with the attorney general’s office, argued that there is no single county that could have complete jurisdiction over the case, to which Holthus responded by saying she disagreed with “100 percent.”
Internet reacts to the case dismissal, sparking an online debate
Internet reactions varied widely following the ruling. "Las Vegas is leaning toward Trump," wrote one user on X.
"Are you kidding me?" expressed another in surprise. "FINALLY, a Judge that looks at facts and not biased for once. DOJ is corrupt to the core and she knows it," commented another user.
"A fair Judge in Nevada! I’m proud. Another suggested, "A different area of the state should take it up then."
Critics were also vocal. "Corrupt judges and traitors," wrote one. Another accused, "Judge choosing personal safety over the law," while someone else lamented, "It is way too easy to commit treason in this country."
FINALLY, a Judge that looks at facts and not biased for once. DOJ is corrupt to the core and she knows it.
— Garlic Farmer (@FarmerGarlic) June 21, 2024
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
