Preliminary Hearing Concludes for 5 Defendants in Michigan Electors Case

A judge will determine if there is probable cause to proceed with a trial, but not until after a preliminary hearing for nine additional defendants in May.

Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist opens the the state's Democratic electors at the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich., on Dec. 14, 2020. Carlos Osorio/AFP via Getty Images

A preliminary hearing concluded on April 24 for five Michigan Republicans who allegedly conspired to present a slate of false electors to the Electoral College for the 2020 presidential election.

Judge Kristen D. Simmons of Ingham County District Court 54-A must now determine if enough evidence exists to proceed with a criminal trial. A decision will not be made until eight other defendants have had a pretrial hearing, which will begin on May 28.