Pastor Andy Thompson’s Federal Bombshell: Did Nevada Just Erase the Proof of Clean 2024 Elections?

Hey, Nevada, remember Pastor Andy Michael Thompson, that determined guy from Henderson we told you about last time? The one battling in the state Supreme Court to let regular folks like us challenge funky election rules without suing a candidate? Well, buckle up, because on November 5, 2025, yeah, yesterday, Thompson dropped two heavy hitters in federal court. He’s accusing the Nevada Secretary of State’s office of straight-up destroying key 2024 election records, right smack in the middle of his lawsuits. And folks, if this sticks, it could blow the lid off how our votes get handled, or at least make officials sweat a bit more about following the rules.

Let’s keep it simple: Thompson, still going it alone without a lawyer, filed in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas (case 2:25-cv-01284-CDS-EJY, before Judge Cristina D. Silva). First up, a Motion for Sanctions and Adverse Inference. That’s fancy talk for asking the judge to punish the state for “spoliation”, which means wiping out evidence you’re supposed to keep. Thompson says between July 21 and September 30, 2025, the state let Dominion Voting Systems overwrite equipment with new software version 5.20. Poof – gone are the digital trails from the 2024 federal election, including ballot images, logs, and forensic data that could prove everything was counted right.

Why’s this a big deal? Federal law, 52 U.S.C. § 20701, says election records must stick around for 22 months after a federal election. For 2024, that’s until around September 2026. But here we are, not even a year later, and the state’s chief deputy attorney general apparently confirmed the overwrite was coming. Thompson calls it willful destruction, especially since his cases were active – one in state court on appeal, and this federal one pushing for preservation. He even attaches exhibits A through J, like court orders and certification reports, to back it up.

In his proposed order, Thompson wants the judge to assume the worst: that the lost data showed “election irregularities and statutory violations.” He’d get an “adverse inference”, meaning the court pretends the evidence proves the state messed up. Plus, sanctions to cover his costs, a default judgment saying he wins on liability, or even a referral to the U.S. Department of Justice for criminal probes under § 20702. That’s right, potential federal crime for trashing protected records. Ouch.

Not stopping there, Thompson fired off a second motion: to compel production of Dominion contracts and tech docs. He wants every deal, amendment, and manual from 2019 onward for versions 5.17 and 5.20, especially bits about saving data during updates. The Election Assistance Commission’s own report says 5.20 was a replacement, not a gentle upgrade, and no public order exists telling counties to back up first. Thompson argues these papers are the only way to prove what the state was supposed to do. His proposed order gives the Secretary of State just 14 days to cough them up, or face more penalties.

Picture this absurdity: We’re in the gambling capital, where casinos keep camera footage forever to catch cheaters. But for elections, the ultimate bet on our future, the state allegedly hits delete while a voter sues to peek at the tapes. If everything was kosher in 2024, why the hurry to scrub the machines clean? Thompson ties it back to his state appeal (Supreme Court No. 90846), where he’s fighting for voters’ rights to demand transparent counts without roadblocks. This federal punch claims the wipe-out guts his cases, violating due process and that rock-solid Guarantee Clause promising a republican government run by We the People.

What could this mean? If Judge Silva bites, Nevada might have to pony up big time, financially and reputation-wise. An adverse call could ripple statewide, forcing audits, better record-keeping, and maybe even scrapping opaque electronic systems that hide more than they reveal. On the flip, if dismissed again, it fuels doubts: Are barriers to challenges just shields for sloppy (or worse) administration? In a swing state like ours, trust in elections isn’t optional; it’s the Constitution’s demand. Yet most Nevadans do not trust our elections, and have little reason to do so.

Thompson, though, is not some wild-eyed conspiracy guy; he’s a pro se fighter citing laws chapter and verse, pointing out how updates without backups mock federal mandates. And get this wit: It’s like the house dealer reshuffling the deck mid-hand because “new cards are shinier,” then saying trust us on the count. Come on.

We covered Thompson’s state brief push for voter standing and audit rights. Now, with federal heat on alleged evidence tampering, his lone stand looks more like a clarion call for accountability. Why risk DOJ scrutiny if the system’s bulletproof? What if those lost files held clues to glitches or worse in Questions 3 and 6, or any race?

Folks, dig into your county’s voting setup. Call the Secretary of State’s office, politely demand the details. Or hit up your legislators for laws mandating full backups before any update. Our votes deserve Vegas-level scrutiny, not a quick vanish act. What’s in those wiped files that couldn’t wait another year? Keep asking, your freedom’s on the line.

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