In a significant development, a Nevada grand jury has indicted six Republicans who falsely pledged the state's electoral votes to the former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election. As Trump sought to reverse his loss to Joe Biden in the state, the so-called alternate electors, including the head of the Nevada Republican Party, are now each facing charges of "offering a false instrument for filing" and "uttering a forged instrument," both of which are Nevada felonies.

The indictment was announced on Wednesday by Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat, who has been overseeing a criminal probe into the electors. This revelation comes after POLITICO revealed last month that Ford was actively investigating the matter.

In December 2020, Trump's allies organized groups of false electors in seven states that Biden had won. These individuals, consisting of Republican activists and operatives, signed certificates falsely claiming to be the legitimate representatives of the states' voters in the Electoral College. Some of these electors have argued that they took this step based on legal advice, believing it was a lawful way to keep Trump's options open in case he won court challenges in the states where he was defeated.

However, even after Trump's lawsuits failed, his close associates used the existence of these false slates of electors to challenge Congress' certification of the 2020 election results on January 6, 2021.

Nevada now becomes the third state, after Michigan and Georgia, to bring criminal charges against false electors. The attorneys general in Arizona and New Mexico are also investigating similar efforts by Trump allies to overturn the election results in their respective states.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford emphasized the importance of upholding democracy and stated, "We cannot allow attacks on democracy to go unchallenged." He further expressed confidence in the judicial system's ability to deliver justice as the prosecution moves forward.

Among the defendants are notable figures such as Michael McDonald, the chair of the Nevada Republican Party, and Jim DeGraffenreid, its national committeeman. Jesse Law, the chair of the Clark County Republican Party, also faces charges, along with Eileen Rice, Durward James Hindle III, and Shawn Meehan.

The indictment accuses the six defendants of knowingly signing fake elector certificates "with the intent to defraud" U.S. government officials.

Involvement in the investigation and proceedings has extended beyond the state level, with DeGraffenreid and McDonald appearing for interviews with the House Jan. 6 select committee. During their testimonies, both individuals invoked their Fifth Amendment rights in response to certain questions. Additionally, DeGraffenreid and McDonald testified before special counsel Jack Smith's federal grand jury in exchange for limited immunity.

CNN has previously reported that Kenneth Chesebro, a Trump lawyer who played a significant role in orchestrating the fake elector scheme, is among the witnesses listed in the indictment. Chesebro had pleaded guilty in Georgia in October for his involvement.

At present, the Nevada Republican Party has not issued a response to the indictment, and Shawn Meehan declined to comment. The other defendants either have not yet responded or could not be reached for comment.

This series of indictments against false electors is a significant development in the aftermath of the 2020 election. As legal proceedings continue, the outcomes will undoubtedly contribute to shaping future electoral processes and accountability in maintaining the integrity of democracy.