Pro-Trump Michigan elector defendants told by judge not to criticize witnesses on social media

A Michigan judge told pro-Trump defendants in Michigan's alternate slate of electors case on Tuesday that they could not criticize witnesses in the trial on social media because it could amount to witness intimidation.  

During the 5th day of the preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Ingham County Judge Kristen Simmons opened up the hearing saying that they could not make "disparaging" remarks on social media about witnesses in the case when someone was taking a photo.  

"If it appears that you're taking a photo, I'm going to have to take your phone and have it searched," Simmons said. "Because we're not going to have witnesses being intimidated when they're coming in here, under a subpoena, to give testimony." 

Simmons made the remarks during the fifth day of preliminary hearings of six pro-Trump defendants involved in a plan to provide an alternate slate of electors during the 2020 presidential election, according to The Detroit News. They are accused of forgery and Democrat Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has said their actions “undermined the public’s faith in the integrity of our elections" and need to be prosecuted.  

Among those going to court for the preliminary examination to see if the case will go to trial include ex-Michigan Republican Party co-chair Meshawn Maddock and Kathy Berden, a former Republican National Committee member. 

Additionally, Republicans John Haggard of Charlevoix as well as Michele Lundgren of Detroit, local Republican Committee Treasurer Mari-Ann Henry, and Grand Blanc Community School board member Amy Facchinello will all appear in the hearings.  

Each have pleaded not guilty to the charges, and some have said that they did not know exactly what an alternate slate of electors was, according to Bridge Michigan. The GOP members were last seen at Simmons' court in February.  

At the time, James Renner, one of the original 16 people who signed the slate of electors document and had his charges dropped because of cooperation, testified, “The purpose was to present the slate of candidates,” Renner stated at the time, “because we were told that the representatives and senators have the ability to accept our slate of candidates versus the Democratic slate of candidates." 

He also added that the group of people were told it was an "an appropriate process” at the time of the election. The slate of electors was brought to the Senate but never officially recognized.  

Eight others are still due in court of those that signed the document, per Bridge Michigan.