Nevada “Fake Electors” Cleared Federally After Trump’s Pardon, State Charges Remain

Former President Donald Trump has officially granted presidential pardons to six Nevada Republicans known as the state’s “alternate electors,” a move that reignites debate over the 2020 election and raises questions about state-level prosecutions still pending against them.

The six Nevadans — Michael McDonald, Jesse Law, Jim DeGraffenreid, Durward James Hindle III, Shawn Meehan, and Eileen Rice — had been indicted on forgery-related charges for signing certificates in December 2020 asserting their support for Trump amid ongoing legal disputes about election integrity. Trump’s federal pardon shields them from any potential federal prosecution but does not erase state charges filed by Nevada’s attorney general.

The case has drawn national attention as an example of how political and legal battles over the 2020 election continue to ripple through the 2024 and 2025 political landscape. While critics on the left claim the group’s actions undermined democracy, supporters argue they acted within their rights to preserve legal options for then-pending election challenges.

In a statement from his campaign office, Trump defended the pardons as “acts of justice,” saying the six “were persecuted for standing up for election integrity and the right to question irregularities.” The former president framed their actions as patriotic rather than criminal, underscoring his long-held position that 2020 election processes were flawed.

Nevada’s Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat, dismissed the pardons as irrelevant to the state’s case, emphasizing that “state sovereignty” gives Nevada full authority to continue its prosecution. The six defendants maintain their innocence, with their attorneys arguing that they followed legal precedent based on advice from national campaign lawyers and did not falsify any votes or documents for personal gain.

The legal distinction between state and federal charges highlights the growing tension between federal authority and state enforcement — a constitutional balance conservatives say is often ignored when political motivations enter the courtroom.

The six pardoned individuals are scheduled for trial in July 2026 in Carson City District Court. Legal experts note that the state may still face challenges proving intent to defraud, particularly if defense attorneys can show the electors were acting under political direction rather than criminal intent.

For Trump, the pardons send a clear message: loyalty to the constitutional process and political dissent should not be criminalized. Whether Nevada continues its case or not, the moment underscores the former president’s ongoing influence and his commitment to defending those he sees as victims of political prosecution.

Credit: Original reporting by KTNV Channel 13 Las Vegas