Michigan could play a pivotal role in the 2024 election, which is why Democrats are keen to keep Trump off the ballot. Fox News’ Chad Pergram has highlighted the significance of Michigan’s decision to reject a ban on Trump’s ballot.
James Renner, a Michigan Republican, is facing allegations of involvement in a fake elector scheme following the 2020 presidential election.
During a recent hearing, Renner claimed he did not understand the electoral process and did not intend to create a false public record. He stated that he believed the process was legitimate and that had he known it was illegal, he would have objected.
Michigan Police Officer (Credits: David Pakman Show/YouTube)
Renner, who previously served with the state police, emphasized that his background was in enforcing the law, not breaking it. He was one of several electors accused of forgery and other charges, but charges against him were dropped after he reached a cooperation deal with the state attorney general’s office.
According to Renner’s testimony, he and other electors attended a meeting at the Michigan Republican Party’s headquarters in Lansing on December 14, 2020.
He was asked to replace a canceled elector and signed a form authorizing him to be an elector. He believed that the Republican electoral slate votes would be used if it was later determined that Trump had won.
Fake electors in Michigan and six other battleground states sent certificates to Congress falsely declaring Trump the winner of the election in their state, despite confirmed results showing he had lost.
Charges were also brought against fake electors in Georgia and Nevada. In Wisconsin, Republicans who served as false electors conceded in a legal settlement that Joe Biden won the election.
Dan Schwager, who served as general counsel to the secretary of the Senate, testified that a fake Certificate of Votes was submitted to the U.S. Senate after the election. However, the document did not match an official document signed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and featuring the Michigan state seal.
The defendants have maintained that their actions were not illegal, despite Biden winning Michigan by nearly 155,000 votes over Trump. Preliminary hearings, which do not involve a jury, are intended for the judge to determine if there is enough evidence to support the charges.
A seventh defendant, Kenneth Thompson, had his case postponed due to his attorney’s absence. The other eight defendants will have preliminary examinations at later dates.
