Michigan Republican charged in false elector plot agrees to cooperation deal

LANSING, Mich. — A Michigan Republican accused of taking part in a pretend elector plot had all prison fees dropped Thursday after he and the state Attorney General’s place of work reached a cooperation deal.

The defendant, James Renner, used to be considered one of 16 Republicans who investigators say met following the 2020 presidential election and signed a file falsely declaring they have been the state’s “duly elected and qualified electors.” Michigan used to be considered one of seven states the place supporters of then-President Donald Trump signed certificate that falsely said he received their states.

President Joe Biden received Michigan by way of just about 155,000 votes, a end result showed by way of a GOP-led state Senate investigation in 2021.

In July, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel introduced that each and every of the 16 would face 8 prison fees, together with more than one counts of forgery. All 16 had pleaded now not accountable.

But on Thursday, the legal professional common’s place of work introduced all through a court docket listening to in Ingham County that it might be shedding its case towards Renner, 77, in response to “an agreement between the parties.”

Renner’s legal professional, Clint Westbrook, stated in court docket that he and his shopper welcomed the outcome. Westbrook didn’t instantly go back a telephone name in search of additional remark at the settlement.

In a commentary, the state Attorney General’s place of work stated they disregarded the case Renner case beneath a cooperation settlement however didn’t elaborate at the deal.

The dropped fees come after Nessel, a Democrat, informed a liberal team all through a digital match that the false electors have been “brainwashed” and believed Trump received in Michigan. A movement to brush aside fees towards two defendants used to be thrown out by way of an Ingham County District Court pass judgement on previous this month.