Judge Drops Nevada Fake Electors Case; AG Appeals

Holthus wrote that the electors' openness cut against the state's theory of fraud: "The fact that Defendants openly announced both their actions and their asserted purpose, rather than concealing their conduct or attempting to secretly induce governmental reliance, weighs against a reasonable inference that they acted with fraudulent intent."

Defense lawyers had argued the signing was "political theater" meant to publicize concerns about the election and to preserve their clients' right to challenge the official results — not an attempt to fool a government agency. Attorneys for the defendants declined to comment Thursday.

Prosecutors argued the opposite: that the paperwork was designed to be mistaken for genuine electoral votes on Jan. 6.

On the right, The Gateway Pundit called the ruling the end of "years of lawfare" against the Nevada Republicans. On the left, Raw Story framed it as "another attempt to hold fake electors accountable" falling apart in court.