A Clark County judge dismissed the yearslong criminal case against six Nevada Republicans accused of submitting a bogus certificate that falsely declared Donald Trump the winner of the state's 2020 presidential election. Judge Mary Kay Holthus issued the ruling on Thursday, marking the latest development in efforts by prosecutors in swing states to pursue charges related to alternate elector slates.[1]

The defendants had been charged with offering a false instrument for filing and uttering a forged instrument. The case had faced multiple procedural hurdles, including an earlier dismissal in 2024 over venue concerns that was later overturned by the Nevada Supreme Court in November 2025.[2]

Holthus's latest decision brings the prosecution to an end for now, though the Nevada Attorney General's Office has indicated it plans to appeal. The six individuals, all Republicans, had pleaded not guilty to the charges stemming from a December 2020 ceremony in Carson City where they signed documents purporting to cast electoral votes for Trump despite Joe Biden's victory in the state.[3]

The dismissal follows hearings earlier this year in which defense attorneys challenged the legal sufficiency of the charges, particularly arguments around intent to defraud. Prosecutors had maintained that the documents were intended to mislead officials, but the judge expressed skepticism on certain elements during prior proceedings.[4]

This outcome aligns with similar challenges faced by fake elector prosecutions in other states, where courts have scrutinized venue, timing, and the strength of evidence regarding fraudulent intent. The Nevada case originated from actions taken after the 2020 election results were certified, with documents mailed from Douglas County but the matter pursued in Clark County.