In a recent court hearing in Clark County District Court, Judge Mary Kay Holthus dismissed charges against six Nevada Republicans who faced allegations of submitting an invalid slate of electoral votes for former President Donald Trump in 2020. The judge ruled that Clark County was not the appropriate jurisdiction for the case, noting that the alleged crime occurred in another jurisdiction.
Nevada 6 electors case DISMISSED! Congratulations to @Chattah4Nevada [1]!! pic.twitter.com/zgNQA5AqqV [2]
— Grace Chong 🇺🇸 (@gc22gc) June 21, 2024 [3]
The defendants’ attorneys argued that the case would be more appropriately heard in Carson City, where the signing ceremony took place, or in Douglas County, where the fraudulent elector documents were originally mailed from. The judge agreed with the defense, highlighting that Clark County’s political leanings could impact the impartiality of a jury in this case.
Following the ruling, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford expressed intent to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court. However, due to the expiration of a three-year statute of limitations in December, the state is unable to re-file the case in a different jurisdiction.
BREAKING!🚨 NEVADA! District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus approved a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against Trump electors in 2020 election case citing jurisdiction!
In multiple States, dueling slates of electors certified their States win for both Donald J. Trump and Joseph R.… pic.twitter.com/eWBFSAVLL5 [4]
— True the Vote (@TrueTheVote) June 21, 2024 [5]
The six defendants, including Nevada GOP Chairman Michael McDonald and Republican National Committeeman Jim DeGraffenreid, were indicted in December on two counts each for their involvement in submitting false election documents purporting to allocate Nevada’s electoral votes to Trump.
The dismissal in Clark County marks the first time a case related to the Trump campaign’s submission of false electors has been thrown out.
Lawyers for the defendants argued that the location where the alleged crimes took place should determine the appropriate jurisdiction for the case, citing a Nevada Supreme Court ruling from 2021.
They contended that key documents were conspired and drafted outside of Clark County, rendering it an insufficient venue for the trial.
BREAKING: A judge has dismissed the criminal case in Nevada against the state’s false GOP electors, saying she didn’t have jurisdiction to oversee the matter.
She suggested the case should have been brought in a different area of the state. pic.twitter.com/2ygJ1K9hcu [6]
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) June 21, 2024 [7]
In response, attorneys from the Nevada Attorney General’s Office pushed back, asserting that no single county had complete jurisdiction over the case. Despite the state’s arguments, Judge Holthus ultimately ruled in favor of dismissing the charges, emphasizing that the location of the preparatory acts and the intent formation were crucial factors in determining the case’s venue.
The outcome of this case highlights the intricate legal battle surrounding the Trump campaign’s efforts to submit a false slate of electors in several swing states following the 2020 election. While legal proceedings continue in other states like Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, and Wisconsin, the dismissal in Nevada offers a moment of respite for the accused Republicans.