WYOMING, Mich. — The Wyoming mayor is confident Michigan's Attorney General cannot prove election fraud charges against him, according to the attorney representing him.
Wyoming Mayor Kent Vanderwood was one of 16 people charged on July 18 for allegedly coordinating as fake electors to give the state's electoral votes to former President Donald Trump in 2020 over Joe Biden, who defeated Trump in the state by over 150,000 votes.
"That was a lie," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said when announcing the charges. "They weren't the duly elected and qualified electors, and each of the defendants knew it. They carried out these actions with the hope and belief that the electoral votes of Michigan's 2020 election would be awarded to the candidate of their choosing, instead of the candidate that Michigan voters actually chose."
The Attorney General's office charged all 16 defendants with the following:
- One count of Conspiracy to Commit Forgery, a 14-year felony
- Two counts of Forgery, a 14-year felony
- One count of Conspiracy to Commit Uttering and Publishing, a 14-year felony
- One count of Uttering and Publishing, a 14-year felony
- One count of Conspiracy to Commit Election Law Forgery, a 5-year felony
- Two counts of Election Law Forgery, a 5-year felony.
Vanderwood has faced calls to recuse himself and resign entirely.
“Mr. Vanderwood is a lifelong community servant who has tirelessly dedicated himself to the various causes he supports in West Michigan and beyond. He has served various faith-based nonprofits and ministries in Michigan and throughout the country helping them to raise money to expand their impact and outreach. He is a man of integrity," Brian Lennon, who is representing Vanderwood, said in a statement.
“Further, Mayor Vanderwood will not resign or voluntarily recuse himself from the important and completely unrelated work he is required to perform as the duly-elected Mayor of the City of Wyoming. He looks forward to his vindication in a court of law in Ingham County.”
Vanderwood won election to his seat in August of 2022. Vanderwood is expected to be arraigned on the charges on Aug. 10.
The Michigan Republican Party made clear their view that the charges could potentially be politically motivated.
"AG Dana Nessel's recent charge of forgery and conspiracy against sixteen alternative electors in Michigan has sparked valid concerns regarding the possible misuse of power by her office," the party said in a statement. "It is crucial to recognize that despite being identified as a liberal, this AG constantly displays authoritarian tendencies and ambitions."
You can read the full statement from the attorney representing Vanderwood here:
“Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel alleges that our client, Kent Vanderwood, and 15 others, signed and filed an alternative Certificate of Votes ‘with the intent to defraud’ the National Archives, the President of the U.S. Senate and others after the tumultuous and then-contested 2020 Presidential election,” said Brian Lennon, attorney for Mr. Vanderwood. “Based on the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, the prosecution’s theory is completely off base.
“The prosecution cannot prove an ‘intent to defraud’ or conspiracy to do the same. Just because AG Nessel has charged eight different offenses does not make any of the charges, or the case as a whole, any better. In fact, Mr. Vanderwood had no intent to defraud anyone or any organization when he signed the Certificate of Votes of the 2020 Electors from Michigan during the time when lawsuits challenging the 2020 presidential election were pending in Michigan. After we have reviewed the government’s discovery, we fully expect that the weakness of the prosecution’s case will begin to be exposed at the preliminary hearing, and in the end, Mr. Vanderwood will be fully vindicated.
“Mr. Vanderwood is a lifelong community servant who has tirelessly dedicated himself to the various causes he supports in West Michigan and beyond. He has served various faith-based nonprofits and ministries in Michigan and throughout the country helping them to raise money to expand their impact and outreach. He is a man of integrity.
“Further, Mayor Vanderwood will not resign or voluntarily recuse himself from the important and completely unrelated work he is required to perform as the duly-elected Mayor of the City of Wyoming. He looks forward to his vindication in a court of law in Ingham County.” - Brian Lennon
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