In a state court hearing on Wednesday, James Renner, one of the 16 Republicans charged with being "fake electors" for former President Donald Trump in Michigan after the 2020 presidential election, testified that he never intended to falsify or alter a public record.

Renner and his co-conspirators were charged by the Michigan Attorney General in July with forgery and conspiracy to commit election forgery. They were accused of attempting to replace Michigan's electoral votes for Joe Biden with votes for Trump during the certification of the vote on January 6, 2021.

Renner, whose case was dismissed by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel in October due to his cooperation, emphasized during the hearing at Ingham County District Court in Lansing that he would have never agreed to attend a meeting with the other suspects on December 14, 2020, if he believed a crime was being committed.

According to prosecutors, the 16 suspects clandestinely gathered in the basement of the Michigan Republican Party headquarters, where they signed multiple certificates claiming they were the duly elected electors. These forged documents were subsequently submitted to the U.S. Senate and the National Archives.

When asked by an attorney if he would have spoken up during the meeting, Renner stated, "I would have challenged it because my background is enforcing the law." He was brought in as a witness by the prosecution as part of the ongoing preliminary hearings for the individuals facing charges as false electors.

Renner testified that the purpose of the meeting was to present their slate of candidates, as they were led to believe that the representatives and senators had the authority to accept their candidates over the Democrats' slate.

During the hearing, Michigan Assistant Attorney General Kahla Crino mentioned a 1960 Hawaii case, which apparently served as inspiration for the alleged fake electors in multiple states. Crino referenced how then-Vice President Richard Nixon, acting as president of the Senate, certified Hawaii's electoral votes that went to his opponent, John F. Kennedy, following a recount in the state.

Crino stated, "This became the inspiration for a multi-state criminal conspiracy that was absolutely linked to the Trump campaign." Notably, Trump has not commented on the Michigan case thus far.

While Renner pleaded not guilty, the state of Michigan continues to pursue charges against the other 15 defendants involved in the alleged scheme.

The proceedings shed light on a highly contentious period following the 2020 presidential election and highlight the ongoing efforts by authorities to investigate and hold those involved accountable for any potential fraudulent activities that transpired.