Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Detroit on Oct. 18, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)
Michigan Attorney Dana Nessel intends to renew her request for the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) case file and report for its now defunct case against President-elect Donald Trump for seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 election, a spokesperson from the Michigan Department of Attorney General on Monday told the Michigan Advance.
Spokesperson Kimberly Bush said in a text message that the Attorney General previously requested the information from the DOJ, and intends to make a renewed request for the materials.
The Department of Justice appointed Jack Smith as special counsel in 2022 to oversee two cases against Trump: one alleging Trump had mishandled classified documents and another alleging Trump had orchestrated an effort to overturn his loss in the 2020 election to President Joe Biden.
As part of his investigation, Smith examined a plot to submit a false slate of electoral votes to Congress in seven states — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — falsely certifying their votes for Trump.
In July 2023, Nessel announced felony charges against 16 individuals in connection to the Michigan fake electors scheme, though charges were later dropped against one defendant, James Renner, as part of a cooperation agreement.
Smith has dropped both of his cases against the president-elect in 2024 following Trump’s win in the last presidential election and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting the president immunity from prosecution for actions related to the core powers of their office. However, Nessel told reporters last week that her office’s prosecution will continue for Michigan’s fake electors.
On Sunday, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes — whose office is working to prosecute 18 individuals indicted as part of Arizona’s own fake electors scheme — sent a letter to the DOJ once again asking for its case file and Smith’s report, saying it would “undoubtedly” assist in the prosecution.
Mayes previously requested the DOJ’s documents in the election interference case against Trump, but at the time Smith said he wasn’t ready or able to share his files.
On Monday, Judge Aileen Cannon — who handled the classified documents case — approved the release of the section of Smith’s report on Trump’s attempt to overturn the election, but blocked the release of the portion related to the documents case.
This brief features reporting from Arizona Mirror Deputy Editor Caitlin Sievers.
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