A Michigan judge dismissed criminal charges Tuesday against 15 Republicans accused of trying to falsely certify President Donald Trump as the winner of the 2020 election, saying that because they seriously believed him, there was no intent to commit fraud.

District Court Judge Kristen D. Simmons' dismissal is a major blow to prosecutors as similar cases in four other states have been muddied with setbacks. Each of the defendants, including a few high profile members of the Republican Party in Michigan, faced eight charges of forgery and conspiracy to commit election forgery, the top charge punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

The effort to secure fake electors was central to the federal indictment against Trump that was abandoned shortly before his second term.

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