Nevada Judge Dismisses Fake Electors Case from 2020 Election
Nevada judge dismissed the criminal case against six Republicans over forged 2020 election certificates.
Why it matters: Legal professionals tracking election law and post-2020 election fraud cases will see this dismissal as a key development in ongoing litigation efforts.
- Judge Mary Kay Holthus dismissed the case on August 13, 2026, citing insufficient evidence of fraudulent intent.
- Defendants included Michael J. McDonald, Nevada GOP chair, and former Clark County GOP chair Jesse Law.
- Judge criticized prosecution for not disclosing exculpatory evidence.
- Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford plans to appeal the dismissal; similar cases in Arizona, Michigan, and Georgia have also been dismissed.
On August 13, 2026, Judge Mary Kay Holthus dismissed the criminal case against six Nevada Republicans accused of submitting a forged certificate claiming Donald Trump won Nevada's 2020 presidential election. The defendants included prominent GOP figures such as Michael J. McDonald, the Nevada Republican Party chair, and Jesse Law, the former Clark County GOP chairman.
The judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to prove fraudulent intent and sharply criticized the prosecution for failing to disclose exculpatory evidence. The case had been allowed to proceed by the Nevada Supreme Court in November 2025, but this recent dismissal marks a setback for prosecutorial efforts.
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford has announced plans to appeal the ruling, signaling that legal battles over these allegations are far from over. This dismissal aligns with a nationwide pattern: similar fake elector cases were dismissed earlier in Arizona, Michigan, and Georgia. For example, Arizona prosecutors dropped their case in June 2026 but intend to seek a new indictment, highlighting the challenges in prosecuting such election-related criminal cases.
Chief Deputy Attorney General Alissa Engler remarked on the broader context, emphasizing the limit of First Amendment protections when conduct crosses into alleged criminality.
This case’s dismissal is significant for legal observers involved in election law and enforcement, as it highlights both the evidentiary hurdles and procedural complexities facing post-election fraud litigation.
By the numbers:
- August 13, 2026 — Date of Nevada case dismissal
- November 2025 — Nevada Supreme Court ruling allowed case to proceed
- June 2026 — Arizona case dismissed with intent to seek new indictment
What's next: Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford plans to appeal the dismissal, keeping the case active in the legal arena.