Last Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. Jonker, Western District of Michigan Southern Division, rejected the Notice of Removal of State Court Action to Federal Court filed by Amy Facchinello, 55, of Grand Blanc.
Facchinello, who is charged with eight felony counts stemming from the alleged False Electors scheme pertaining to the 2020 presidential election in Michigan, sought removal of her case to a federal court invoking federal officer jurisdiction in September. In his Opinion and Order, Jonker concluded “Defendant Facchinello was not a federal officer…and did not act under a federal officer when taking part in the events that allegedly violated Michigan criminal law.” Jonker also declared, “...presidential electors themselves are not federal officers. Moreover, Defendant Facchinello never became an actual presidential elector anyway."
“... even though electors perform a federal function, their authority derives from the States, not the federal government,” Jonker later concluded. The prosecution of Facchinello was remanded back to the Ingham County District Court.
After the dismissal of charges against James Renner, 76, of Lansing, per a cooperation agreement, 15 defendants remain in the State prosecution. Each has pled not guilty to eight felony charges, and preliminary exams are scheduled for 12 defendants at the 54-A District Court in Ingham County before Judge Kristen Simmons, as follows:
December 13-14, 2023:
Kathy Berden, 70, of Snover
Amy Facchinello, 55, of Grand Blanc
John Haggard, 82, of Charlevoix
Mari-Ann Henry, 65, of Brighton
Michele Lundgren, 73, of Detroit
Meshawn Maddock, 55, of Milford
Ken Thompson, 68, of Orleans
January 30-31, 2024:
William (Hank) Choate, 72, of Cement City
Stanley Grot, 71, of Shelby Township
Mayra Rodriguez, 64, of Grosse Pointe Farms
Rose Rook, 81, of Paw Paw
Kent Vanderwood, 69, of Wyoming
Preliminary examinations are yet to be scheduled for the following:
Clifford Frost, 75, of Warren
Timothy King, 56, of Ypsilanti
Marian Sheridan, 69, of West Bloomfield
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