The Nevada judge who went viral after a violent courtroom incident involving a defendant has dismissed the “fake electors” case related to the 2020 presidential election. Clark County, Nevada, District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus threw out the indictment against six Republicans accused of illegally submitting certificates to Congress certifying Trump as the winner of the election.
Judge Holthus cited jurisdictional issues as the reason for dismissing the case, pointing out that the events in question took place in a different county than where the case was brought. The defendants argued that they met in Carson City, Nevada, which is located in a different county from where the trial was set to take place in Las Vegas.
The defendants, including state GOP chairman Michael McDonald and Clark County Republican Party chairman Jesse Law, were accused of offering false and forged documents to overturn President Biden’s victory. The charges carried penalties of up to four or five years in prison. Despite living in Las Vegas, the judge determined that the events leading to the charges occurred in a different part of the state.
Defense attorneys declared the case dead, emphasizing that bringing it before another grand jury in a different venue would violate the statute of limitations. The state attorney general’s office expressed disagreement with the judge’s decision and plans to appeal the ruling immediately.
The case involving Judge Holthus gained national attention after a separate incident where a defendant, Deobra Redden, attacked her in court. Redden, who was being sentenced on a battery charge, lunged at the judge during the sentencing hearing, resulting in chaos in the courtroom. Redden had to be physically restrained by court officers and was eventually sentenced to up to four years in prison.
The judge’s decision to dismiss the “fake electors” case adds to the ongoing legal battles in several battleground states related to Trump’s 2020 campaign. While cases in other states have been delayed, Nevada’s case focused on the actions of six defendants accused of submitting fraudulent documents. The legal proceedings highlight the contentious aftermath of the 2020 election and the ongoing efforts to address election-related issues in the court system.
The dismissal of the case underscores the complexities of legal challenges surrounding the election and the importance of jurisdictional issues in legal proceedings. As the legal battles continue in various states, the outcome of these cases will have implications for future election processes and the integrity of the electoral system.