John Haggard spent years fighting criminal charges that threatened to destroy his reputation, only to die within hours of learning he had finally been vindicated.
The Bitter Victory That Came Too Late
The phone call John Haggard had waited years to receive finally came on September 10, 2025. His lawyer, Mary Chartier, delivered the news he had desperately hoped to hear: the criminal charges against him for his role as a so-called “false elector” in 2020 had been dismissed. Within hours, the 64-year-old Michigan Republican activist was dead.
Lawfare is deadly: It is with profound sadness to learn of the passing of my client, John Haggard, a true patriot and dedicated Republican who served as a 2020 elector for President Trump. John was 84 and fought bravely for years against baseless political persecution – both in… https://t.co/4Kd6SIwxF6 pic.twitter.com/znMgSgHgVw
— Kevin Kijewski (@KevinKijewski) September 10, 2025
The Alternate Elector Controversy
The charges against Haggard stemmed from his participation in Michigan’s alternate elector effort following the 2020 presidential election. When Joe Biden’s victory was certified in Michigan, Haggard joined other Republican activists in signing documents claiming to be the state’s legitimate electors for Donald Trump. This action, replicated in several swing states, became the foundation for criminal investigations.
Michigan’s Attorney General’s office pursued aggressive prosecutions against the alternate electors, framing their actions as an attempt to subvert democracy. Haggard and his co-defendants maintained they were exercising their constitutional rights and challenging what they believed were irregularities in the election process. The legal battle consumed years of their lives and substantial financial resources.
A Lifelong Republican’s Final Stand
Haggard’s involvement in the alternate elector scheme wasn’t a spontaneous decision but reflected decades of commitment to Republican principles and conservative causes. His participation represented what he and many supporters viewed as a principled stand for election integrity, even as critics characterized it as an attack on democratic norms.
The prosecution of alternate electors like Haggard raised serious questions about the criminalization of political dissent. While prosecutors argued they were upholding the rule of law, many conservatives saw the charges as weaponization of the justice system against political opponents. Haggard became a symbol of this broader conflict between competing visions of justice and democracy.
Condolences to the family of John Haggard, 84, an activist in northern MI politics & one of the 15 GOP electors. He passed away hours after the charges against him & the others were dismissed.
He encouraged me to run for county commissioner long before I did. RIP, Patriot. 🇺🇸🫡 pic.twitter.com/w9wUKkRfyt
— Izzy Lyman (@IzzyLyman) September 10, 2025
The Ultimate Price of Political Persecution
The dismissal of charges against Haggard suggests that the prosecution may have been flawed from the beginning. His death so soon after vindication raises uncomfortable questions about whether the stress of prolonged legal persecution contributed to his passing. The emotional and physical toll of fighting criminal charges while maintaining innocence can be devastating, particularly for older defendants.
Haggard’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of turning political disputes into criminal prosecutions. While the legal system ultimately recognized the weakness of the case against him, that recognition came too late to restore the years of his life consumed by legal battles. His family and supporters are left to wonder what might have been if prosecutorial discretion had prevailed from the start.
Sources:
Republican dies after learning false elector charges were dismissed – The Detroit News