Nevada’s electors are trapped in legal limbo because the federal government may have pulled the strings – in Washington’s back room, not Carson City’s courts.
Here’s the plain-spoken version of what’s going on and why it matters in Nevada.
Last week it was revealed that more than 2,000 pages of internal documents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation show a sweeping effort by the United States Department of Justice under the Biden administration to target conservative activists, organizations, and even the electors chosen for former President Donald Trump.
According to conservative lawyer Cleta Mitchell, the real goal was to punish Trump and his supporters – not enforce neutral law.
In Nevada, six Republican 2020 electors were indicted by Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford in December 2023.
But earlier that year, Ford publicly stated there was no state law authority to bring such charges – then changed his mind.
Mitchell argues that the case in Nevada and other states (Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin) were not really “state” prosecutions.
Instead, she says the FBI and DOJ pushed the agenda and used state attorneys general as proxies.
If true, that raises serious questions about limited government, federal overreach, and prosecutorial fairness.
As Mitchell puts it: “These are not true state charges … the entire scheme … is a nullity.”
Why conservatives should care
From a conservative lens, the main issues are about government power and individual rights. Here are three big ones:
- Overreach: If the federal government can orchestrate prosecutions in Nevada (and elsewhere) via state officials, then the separation between federal and state powers is eroded.
- Law and order: It’s not just enforcing laws; it’s how they’re enforced. If the justice system becomes a tool for partisan politics, public safety and trust take a hit.
- Accountability and fairness: Taxpayers paid hundreds of millions in legal costs for these cases, says Mitchell. When government acts unfairly, it undermines its own legitimacy.
Critics argue the electors scheme was a serious attempt to undermine the 2020 election and the rule of law.
They cite investigations into “fake” elector certificates and alleged conspiracies. They contend that Nevada’s charges were valid and state officials were acting on legitimate concerns.
But Mitchell pushes back: she says the Nevada charges were framed under state law even though the federal law – namely the Electoral Count Act of 1887 – governs electors, not state statutes.
What should happen now
Mitchell says:
- Act quickly to pardon all the indicted electors.
- Review the DOJ and FBI communications with the Nevada AG’s office and other state prosecutors.
- Ensure transparency so taxpayers and honest conservative citizens know what really happened.
For Nevada residents – from Las Vegas to the High Desert – the stakes are clear.
If federal agencies can direct state prosecutions, local officials might no longer represent locals’ interests but those of Washington.
Conservative voters in Clark and Washoe counties should ask: Who is accountable here? Is our state government standing up for freedom or rubber-stamping federal power?
This is more than paperwork and legal technicalities.
It’s about whether citizens who acted under counsel and on state mandates can be treated as criminals because the wrong actors are pulling the levers of power.
Here in Nevada, conservatives should keep their eyes open and demand clarity, fairness, and limited government.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. Digital technology was used in the research, writing, and production of this article. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
