In a significant development, it was revealed during a pretrial hearing in Lansing that former President Donald Trump is an unindicted co-conspirator in the Michigan attorney general's investigation into attempts to overturn the 2020 election in the state. The testimony came from special agent Howard Shock, one of the lead investigators in the probe, who confirmed that Trump, along with former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, and former Trump campaign lawyer Jenna Ellis, are all considered unindicted co-conspirators.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat, had previously charged 16 fake Republican electors from Michigan last summer as part of her investigation into election subversion. While one of the charged individuals has already agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in exchange for dropped charges, the remaining 15 defendants have pleaded not guilty.

It is important to note that Trump, Giuliani, Meadows, and Ellis are not facing charges in Michigan but are indicted in Georgia's 2020 election interference case. Ellis had previously pleaded guilty in that case, while the others continue to deny any wrongdoing. Despite this, the revelation of their status as unindicted co-conspirators in the Michigan investigation raises questions about their involvement in attempts to overturn election results.

The investigation in Michigan has been focusing on the actions of the individual fake electors, who were charged with felonies last summer. However, there have been indications that prosecutors are now widening their scope, delving into the broader attempts backed by Trump to challenge the results in Michigan, where he lost by approximately 155,000 votes.

To further understand the role of Trump, Giuliani, and Trump campaign operatives in these efforts, investigators previously interviewed pro-Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro, a key figure in the fake electors plot. Reports suggest that investigators sought information about how these individuals were involved in interfering with the election results not only in Michigan but also in other states.

This revelation adds to the growing number of charges filed against fake electors in several states, including Michigan, Georgia, and Nevada. Investigations are still ongoing in Arizona and Wisconsin. However, prosecutors in New Mexico and Pennsylvania have chosen not to pursue charges.

As news of Trump's status as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Michigan election probe spreads, reactions and responses from involved parties, including Trump's representatives, Michigan's attorney general's office, and the defendants' attorneys, are awaited.

The ongoing investigations leave many wondering about the potential implications for the integrity of elections and the justice system.