Ken Thompson

On November 9–10, 2025, President Trump issued Ken Thompson a federal pardon covering offenses related to the 2020 election. This pardon covers federal exposure only; no federal charges had been filed against Ken Thompson, and the pardon has no legal effect on the separate (by then already-dismissed) Michigan state case.

• Trump pardons Michigan's alleged false electors for 2020 offenses — Michigan Advance (11/10/2025) [Primary]

Ken Thompson was charged on July 18, 2023 by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel with eight felony counts (two counts forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery, two counts election-law forgery, conspiracy to commit election-law forgery, publishing a counterfeit record, and conspiring to publish a counterfeit record) in connection with the elector certificate. On September 9, 2025, a 54-A District Court judge dismissed the charges against Ken Thompson after a preliminary examination, ruling prosecutors had not proven criminal intent. On March 9, 2026, Attorney General Nessel announced she would not appeal, closing the state case. Ken Thompson was not convicted of any charge in this case.

• Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel Charges 16 False Electors — Michigan Attorney General's Office (07/18/2023) [Primary]
• Michigan judge dismisses charges against fake electors — CNN (09/09/2025) [Corroborating]
• AG Nessel: No appeal of district court's failure to bind over 2020 false electors — Michigan Attorney General's Office (03/09/2026) [Corroborating]

Ken Thompson was one of 16 Michigan Republicans who met at Michigan Republican Party headquarters in Lansing on December 14, 2020 and signed a document declaring themselves "the duly elected and qualified electors for President and Vice President of the United States of America for the State of Michigan" for Donald Trump and Mike Pence, and falsely stating the meeting occurred "at the state capitol." The claim was false: Michigan's certified electoral votes, reflecting Joe Biden's certified win in the state, were cast by Michigan's Biden-Harris electors, at the Capitol, the same day. Michigan's document contained no conditional or contingency language.

• What we know about the 16 fake electors charged in Michigan — CBS Detroit (07/19/2023) [Primary]
• Final Report, Chapter 3 (fraudulent elector scheme) — January 6th Select Committee / GPO (12/22/2022) [Corroborating]
• Michigan Certificate of Ascertainment, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (12/14/2020) [Corroborating]

12/14/2020

• What we know about the 16 fake electors charged in Michigan — CBS Detroit (07/19/2023) [Primary]
• Michigan Certificate of Ascertainment, 2020 — National Archives and Records Administration (12/14/2020) [Corroborating]