Current:Home > reviewsFake Michigan Certificate of Votes mailed to U.S. Senate after 2020 presidential vote, official says -FutureFinance
Fake Michigan Certificate of Votes mailed to U.S. Senate after 2020 presidential vote, official says
View
Date:2025-04-20 01:01:45
A fake Certificate of Votes was submitted to the U.S. Senate following Michigan’s 2020 presidential election, an official testified Tuesday during a preliminary hearing for six people facing forgery and other charges for allegedly serving as false electors.
But that “purported” Certificate of Votes didn’t match an official document signed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and featuring the Michigan state seal, said Dan Schwager, who served in 2020-2021 as general counsel to the secretary of the Senate.
“We could tell it was not an authorized Certificate of Votes. It was a fake,” Schwager testified in Lansing District Court.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has charged 15 Republicans in the case. Investigators have said the group signed a document during a meeting at the Michigan Republican headquarters on Dec. 14, 2020, falsely stating they were the state’s “duly elected and qualified electors.”
The defendants have insisted that their actions were not illegal, even though Joe Biden won Michigan by nearly 155,000 votes over then-President Donald Trump, a result confirmed by a GOP-led state Senate investigation in 2021.
Fake electors in Michigan and six other battleground states sent certificates to Congress falsely declaring Trump the winner of the 2020 presidential election in their state, despite confirmed results showing he had lost. Michigan, Georgia and Nevada have charged fake electors. Republicans who served as false electors in Wisconsin agreed to a legal settlement in which they conceded that Biden won the election and that their efforts were part of an attempt to improperly overturn the 2020 results.
Schwager said Tuesday the false Michigan document arrived Jan. 5, 2021, to the U.S. Senate’s mail services and that he reviewed it a few days later.
“The Michigan one came in a little bit late and so it was added to the collection of the other fake certificates,” he said.
Schwager also said it was “not uncommon to get one or two often really wacky submissions from people claiming to be electors that are way out there.”
“I think we get maybe one or two or three every four or eight years, or something,” he added.
Miriam Vincent, acting director of Legal Affairs and Policy for the Office of the Federal Register, testified Tuesday that “materials purported to be Certificate of Votes from non-official sources” were received by her office which is part of the National Archives.
The return address listed the Michigan Republican Party, Vincent said.
In December, former Michigan GOP Communications Director Anthony Zammit testified that he believes an attorney for Trump’s campaign “took advantage” of some of the 15 Republicans.
Preliminary hearings don’t involve a jury and are for the judge to determine if there is sufficient evidence to substantiate the charges.
Six defendants are having their cases heard together. A seventh, Kenneth Thompson, had his case postponed because his attorney didn’t show up. The other eight defendants will have preliminary examinations at later dates.
veryGood! (326)
Related
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- Dan + Shay misses out on 'wonderful' country singer on 'The Voice': 'I'm kicking myself''
- Kentucky Senate passes bill allowing parents to retroactively seek child support for pregnancy costs
- School funding and ballot initiatives are among issues surviving in Mississippi Legislature
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Why is a 'Glee' song from 14 years ago topping Billboard charts?
- As France guarantees the right to abortion, other European countries look to expand access
- How Putin’s crackdown on dissent became the hallmark of the Russian leader’s 24 years in power
- Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
- How Putin’s crackdown on dissent became the hallmark of the Russian leader’s 24 years in power
Ranking
- 'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
- Why Vanessa Hudgens Says She’s Grateful for Austin Butler Split
- US job openings stay steady at nearly 8.9 million in January, a sign labor market remains strong
- Why Vanessa Hudgens Says She’s Grateful for Austin Butler Split
- Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
- Man released from prison after judge throws out conviction in 1976 slaying after key witness recants
- CBS News poll analysis: Who's voting for Biden, and who's voting for Trump?
- Georgia pushes group to sanction prosecutors as Fani Willis faces removal from Trump case
Recommendation
'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
Dakota Johnson talks 'Madame Web' reviews and being a stepmom to Gwyneth Paltrow's kids
Horoscopes Today, March 5, 2024
Torrential snow storm leaves Northern California covered in powder: See the top photos
See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
Prince William’s Spokesperson Addresses Kate Middleton Conspiracy Theories
2 women killed, man injured in shooting at Vegas convenience store; suspect flees on bicycle
Klarna CEO says AI can do the job of 700 workers. But job replacement isn't the biggest issue.