A state investigator testified Wednesday that he considers former President Donald Trump and his White House chief of staff to be uncharged co-conspirators in a scheme to claim that he won Michigan in the 2020 election, despite Democrat Joe Biden’s clear victory.
Quick Read
- Uncharged Co-Conspirators: A state investigator testified that former President Donald Trump and his White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, are considered uncharged co-conspirators in a scheme to falsely declare Trump the winner of Michigan in the 2020 election.
- Testimony in Michigan: During a hearing in Michigan to determine if there is sufficient evidence for a trial, investigator Howard Shock affirmed under cross-examination that Trump, Meadows, and other high-ranking figures could have been part of the alleged plot to manipulate Michigan’s electoral votes.
- Defense Attorney’s Query: Defense attorney Duane Silverthorn asked Shock to confirm if certain individuals were unindicted co-conspirators, to which Shock responded affirmatively for several names including Trump and Meadows.
- Legal Reactions: The response to this testimony has sparked reactions, with some legal experts questioning its relevance and criticizing the proceedings as focused on individuals who were not formally charged.
- Related Legal Challenges: This testimony ties into broader legal actions involving Trump and his associates, including charges in Georgia and a federal indictment concerning efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
- Public and Political Responses: Trump’s campaign has dismissed the Michigan case as a “witch hunt,” while Giuliani’s team expressed pride in his defense of election concerns.
The Associated Press has the story:
Investigator: Trump, allies were uncharged co-conspirators in plot to overturn Michigan election
Newslooks- DETROIT (AP) —
A state investigator testified Wednesday that he considers former President Donald Trump and his White House chief of staff to be uncharged co-conspirators in a scheme to claim that he won Michigan in the 2020 election, despite Democrat Joe Biden’s clear victory.
Trump and Mark Meadows were among the names mentioned during the cross-examination of Howard Shock, whose work led to forgery charges against more than a dozen people in Michigan. A judge in the state capital is holding hearings to determine if there is enough evidence to order a trial.
A defense attorney, Duane Silverthorn, offered a series of names and asked Shock if they were “unindicted co-conspirators,” which means they weren’t charged but could have been part of an alleged plot to put Michigan’s electoral votes in Trump’s column.
Prosecutors from the attorney general’s office didn’t object. Shock responded “yes” to Trump, Meadows, Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and some high-ranking state Republicans.
Silverthorn then moved on to other questions.
“I’m surprised the question was even answered,” said Detroit-area attorney Margaret Raben, former head of a statewide association of defense lawyers.
“It’s irrelevant — legally and factually irrelevant — that there are other people who could have been charged or should have been charged,” said Raben, who is not involved in the case.
Meadows’ lawyer, George Terwilliger, had a similar reaction when reached by The Associated Press. He declined further comment. Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung referred to the Michigan case as an “ongoing witch hunt,” and Giuliani political adviser Ted Goodman said the former New York mayor was proud to stand up for people with concerns about the election.
In Georgia, Trump, Giuliani and others are charged with conspiracy related to the filing of a Republican elector certificate in that state following the 2020 election. Meadows is also charged in Georgia but not in relation to the elector scheme. They have pleaded not guilty.
An indictment by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith charging Trump with plotting to overturn the election also accuses the former president in a fake elector scheme and identifies six unnamed and unindicted co-conspirators, including Giuliani.
In Michigan, authorities said more than a dozen Republicans sent certificates to Congress falsely declaring they were electors and that Trump was the winner of the 2020 election in the state, despite results showing he had lost. Attorney General Dana Nessel said the scheme was hatched in the basement of the state Republican Party headquarters.
