Michigan

Michigan vote machine tampering case heads to trial. Are ‘fake electors’ next? | Jonathan Oosting/Bridge Michigan

The trial for three Trump loyalists facing charges related to tampering with Michigan voting machines after the 2020 election has been scheduled for March 4. The suspects, including attorneys Matthew DePerno and Stefanie Lambert, along with former state Rep. Diare Rendon, are accused of illegally seizing election equipment in an unsuccessful attempt to prove voter fraud. Separately, a judge rejected motions to dismiss felony conspiracy and forgery charges against two of the 15 Republicans accused in the false elector scheme. The defendants, including Republican National Committeewoman Kathy Berden and former Michigan GOP Co-Chair Meshawn Maddock, are accused of conspiring to forge a "certificate of votes" falsely claiming Trump won Michigan, each facing up to 14 years in prison if convicted. Read Article

Michigan: Trump staffer allegedly urged rioting to obstruct Detroit vote count | Craig Mauger/The Detroit News

Federal prosecutors allege that a campaign employee of former President Donald Trump "encouraged rioting" to obstruct the counting of votes in Detroit after the November 2020 election, drawing a direct connection between the events and the Trump campaign. The allegation is part of a court filing in a criminal case against Trump, focusing on his efforts to overturn the election. The court document indicates that a Trump campaign staffer exchanged text messages encouraging rioting when they learned the vote count was trending in favor of Biden. Read Article

Michigan Governor signs election law overhaul that aims to prevent ‘chaos’ | Jonathan Oosting/Bridge Michigan

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed a series of election bills into law, touting them as measures to boost democratic participation and prevent chaos in the event of disputed elections. Among other provisions, the new laws expand voter registration, criminalize poll worker intimidation, regulate political ads using artificial intelligence, and tighten the election certification process. Read Article

The rural Michigan town fighting against rightwing conspiracy theories | Michigan | Alice Herman/The Guardian

Adams Township in Hillsdale county is facing political divisions, far-right influence, and concerns of potential violence leading up to the 2024 elections. The region has been marked by election conspiracy theories, with a faction called "America First Republicans" emerging from the Hillsdale county GOP. The former leader of the Christian Hutaree Militia, David Stone, now chairs this group. Adams Township recently removed a conspiracy theory-promoting clerk and a far-right supervisor, hoping for stability. The new clerk, Suzy Roberts, faces the dual challenge of navigating new statewide election policies for 2024 and countering false conspiracy theories. The transition comes amid a backdrop of threats, harassment, and tensions in the community, highlighting the broader issues surrounding election administration and security in politically divided areas. Read Article

Michigan: Private eye, secret informant aided voting machine tampering probe | Jonathan Oosting/Bridge Michigan

Private investigator Michael Lynch, who was hired by Stefanie Lambert and Matt DePerno, testified before a grand jury and cooperated with authorities in a case involving an alleged voting machine tampering scheme. Lambert and DePerno were indicted for their roles in the scheme, which prosecutors claim involved testing an illegally obtained voting machine to prove it was rigged against former President Donald Trump. Lynch allegedly hosted Lambert, DePerno, and others in his condominium for the testing. Court records reveal that Lynch provided information to authorities in April 2022, meeting with officials from the Department of Attorney General and state police. Read Article

Michigan House advances protections for poll workers, restrictions on AI in political ads | Kyle Davidson/Michigan Advance

The Michigan House of Representatives passed bills aimed at safeguarding elections and election officials. House Bills 4129 and 4130 establish penalties for intimidating or obstructing election officials in the performance of their duties. Violations would range from misdemeanors with fines and imprisonment to felony charges. The legislation defines election officials and specifies what constitutes intimidation. The House also approved bipartisan bills requiring disclaimers on political ads that use artificial intelligence, with penalties for deceptive practices. The bills will move to the Senate Committee on Elections and Ethics for further consideration. These measures come in response to threats and intimidation faced by election workers, with 1 in 3 officials having experienced such incidents, according to a survey by the Brennan Center for Justice. Read Article

Michigan Attorney General drops charges against fake GOP elector after he agrees to cooperate | Marshall Cohen/CNN

James Renner, one of the pro-Donald Trump fake electors charged in Michigan, has agreed to cooperate with state prosecutors in exchange for having his case dismissed. Renner is the first defendant to strike such a deal, and it's a significant development in the case. As part of the agreement, Renner will provide complete and truthful testimony whenever called upon by prosecutors, including describing the events in the room where the sham certificate was signed in December 2020. The fake GOP electors attempted to subvert the Electoral College process in 2020 by signing illegitimate certificates falsely claiming Trump won the presidential election in Michigan. The remaining 15 defendants, including current and former state GOP officials, have pleaded not guilty. Read Article

Michigan Introduces Legislation to Regulate A.I. in Elections | Public Citizen

Michigan has introduced a bipartisan bill package aimed at regulating content generated by artificial intelligence (A.I.) in election communications. The legislation, brought forward by State Representatives Penelope Tsernoglou, Matthew Bierlein, Noah Arbit, and Ranjeev Puri, requires a disclaimer on political advertisements if they involve A.I.-generated content and bans A.I. deepfakes in election-related communications unless they come with a clear disclosure. The move follows in the footsteps of other states like Texas, Minnesota, California, and Washington, which have already passed similar legislation to address concerns about the use of A.I. in elections. Read Article

Michigan: Overseas ballot transmission for military puts lawmakers at odds | Beth LeBlanc/The Detroit News

The Michigan House has passed a bill allowing spouses, children, and family members stationed overseas with military personnel to electronically return their absentee ballots by 2025. This legislation, sponsored by Rep. Carol Glanville, mandates the development of a secure web portal and rules for ballot submission, requiring them to match the voter's signature on file and be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Additionally, another bill passed would permit third-party transportation services for voters and eliminate requirements for clerks to automatically challenge certain absentee ballots. Both bills are heading to the Senate, with similar legislation pending. Currently, 31 other states allow certain voters to return ballots electronically. This move has been celebrated by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who assert it will strengthen democracy in Michigan. Read Article

Michigan Democrats advance internet voting bill that worries security experts | Ben Orner/mlive.com

House Bill 4210, recently passed by the Michigan House of Representatives, expands electronic voting to include military spouses and dependents living overseas. Advocates assert that this enables military families to exercise their voting rights more conveniently. However, election security experts, including C.Jay Coles from Verified Voting, caution against the introduction of the internet into elections, emphasizing the potential risks. Coles warns that if the system is compromised, it could lead to a "crisis of confidence in our entire democracy" and open the door for large-scale manipulation of ballots and vote counts. Critics propose exploring alternatives such as expedited return of physical ballots or providing free postage for military spouses overseas to ensure their voting rights. The bill now awaits review in a Senate committee and the full Senate before potentially becoming law. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has expressed support for the bill. Read Article

Michigan: Threatening election workers could soon be felony | Ben Orner/mlive.com

Michigan State Rep. Kara Hope is advocating for legislation, House Bills 4129 and 4130, aimed at safeguarding election workers from harassment and intimidation. These bills, which have gained momentum with Democrats holding a majority in both legislative chambers, propose making it a felony to intimidate or obstruct the duties of election officials, with penalties including up to five years in prison or a fine of up to $1,000. The legislation, motivated by concerns over increasing political tensions and threats against election workers, is viewed as crucial for the smooth operation of elections. Read Article

Michigan: Antrim County election software ‘in the wild’ | Mardi Link/Traverse City Record-Eagle

Election security experts warn that protected images from Antrim County's election equipment and a copy of the county's election management software have been accessed and shared by unauthorized users in multiple states, including Georgia, Arizona, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. This comes after a data team in Georgia uploaded the information to an online storage folder in 2020. The election software used in Antrim County is used in many voting systems across the United States. Election security adviser Susan Greenhalgh has called for a federal investigation into what she describes as a "multi-state conspiracy" to undermine, disrupt, or tamper with elections by accessing and distributing election software. Read Article

Michigan fake elector described planning with Trump campaign attorneys: ‘Mike Pence and Congress [to] make that decision’ | Andrew Kaczynski and Em Steck/CNN

Meshawn Maddock, one of the fake electors in Michigan appointed by Republicans in December 2020, revealed in a radio interview that the plan to use fake electors was coordinated with constitutional attorneys from the Trump campaign. Maddock's comments contradict her recent statements, where she claimed only a "vague" recollection of the scheme. In the December 2020 interview, she acknowledged that the slate of fake electors could potentially override the legitimate elector votes on January 6, 2021, demonstrating her understanding of the plot. Maddock, who is currently facing charges for her involvement in the scheme, has been a vocal proponent of false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. Read Article

Fury at Michigan officials charged in 2020 false electors scheme: ‘This isn’t who we are’ | Alice Herman/The Guardian

Sixteen Republicans in Michigan, including prominent local politicians, are facing anger, prosecution, and recall for their alleged involvement in signing a false electors certificate for Donald Trump during the 2020 presidential election. The charges, which Michigan's attorney general announced, have triggered a push for elected officials involved to resign. The accused individuals face felony charges, and their constituents are demanding accountability. This situation highlights the legal and ethical challenges surrounding the actions of these officials, with residents and good government groups calling for consequences in light of their attempt to overturn the election results. Read Article

Michigan: Dispute over documents delays considerations to move election tabulators trial | Kyle Davidson/Michigan Advance

Attorneys Stefanie Lambert Junttila and Matt DePerno, along with former state representative Daire Rendon, are facing charges related to alleged tampering with voting tabulators following the 2020 presidential election. Lambert Junttila has requested to move the trial to Antrim County in Michigan, while Special Prosecutor DJ Hilson has argued that Oakland County Circuit Court is the proper venue due to the crimes being committed there. The judge will consider the request to move the trial in two weeks. The charges involve alleged attempts to access and tamper with voting tabulators in relation to the 2020 election. Read Article

Michigan voting machines exchanged at mall, ‘manipulated’ in hotels | Jonathan Oosting/Bridge Michigan

Pro-Trump attorneys and a Michigan lawmaker are alleged to have enlisted a private investigator to collect 2020 voting machines that were later "manipulated" during testing in Oakland County hotels, according to newly disclosed allegations by a special prosecutor. The group, including attorneys Matthew DePerno and Stefanie Lambert (Junttila) and then-state Rep. Daire Rendon, allegedly illegally obtained the election equipment and kept some of it for months. They reportedly worked with private investigator Michael Lynch, who hosted the group and filmed testing on the machines to attempt to prove they had been rigged against former President Donald Trump. The allegations include unauthorized collection of voting equipment from various counties, manipulating the equipment's computer system, and extended possession of the equipment. Charges have been filed against DePerno, Lambert, and Rendon. Read Article

Michigan pro-Trump lawyer’s texts shed light on voting machine probe | Clara Hendrickson/Detroit Free Press

Stefanie Lambert Junttila, a Michigan lawyer aligned with former President Donald Trump, is facing criminal charges for allegedly plotting to seize voting machines after the 2020 election. Text messages obtained through a public records lawsuit show that she communicated with Doug Logan, former CEO of cybersecurity firm Cyber Ninjas, about gaining access to new voting machines in Michigan. She specifically requested Logan to keep this information secret. The investigation suggests that Lambert and other Trump allies tampered with the tabulators. Lambert is among several individuals charged in this matter, but Logan will not face criminal charges, according to a statement from the prosecutor's office. Read Article

Michigan trio indicted in voting machine breaches. Clerks and experts say it’s a warning for others. | Oralandar Brand-Williams/Votebeat Michigan

Three Michigan allies of former President Donald Trump were indicted and arraigned for their alleged involvement in an illegal plot to gain possession of voting machines used in the 2020 election and examine them in a failed attempt to prove election fraud. The indictment demonstrates that the rules and laws governing the security of Michigan's election systems worked, according to experts and local clerks. The indictments may serve as a deterrent to others considering attempts to gain unauthorized access to voting machines. The suspects face felony charges related to possession of voting equipment, conspiracy, willful damage to voting machines, and unauthorized access to a computer system. Read Article

Michigan prosecutors charge Trump allies in felonies involving voting machines, illegal ‘testing’ | Joey Cappelletti/Associated Press

Matthew DePerno, a former Republican attorney general candidate who was endorsed by Donald Trump, and Daire Rendon, a supporter of Trump and a former Republican state representative, have been charged in Michigan for accessing and tampering with voting machines after the 2020 election. DePerno was charged with undue possession of a voting machine and conspiracy, while Rendon was charged with conspiracy to commit undue possession of a voting machine and false pretenses. They are accused of taking five vote tabulators from three counties to a hotel room and performing "tests" on the equipment. Both have denied wrongdoing, but DePerno has been named as a "prime instigator" in the case. These charges are part of the legal consequences some are facing for crimes committed after embracing Trump's false claim of a stolen election. The former president himself is also under investigation for election interference in Georgia. Read Article

Michigan lawsuit to ‘rerun’ 2020 election dismissed by federal judge | Clara Hendrickson/Detroit Free Press

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to decertify the 2020 presidential election and order a new one. The lawsuit, filed against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, alleged malfeasance in the election results. The judge stated that many of the allegations lacked proof or resolution and were based on tired examples that have been debated for years. The lawsuit's dismissal is another failed attempt to challenge the election outcome, with post-election audits and investigations upholding the results. Michigan's Attorney General Dana Nessel welcomed the decision, emphasizing the importance of upholding democracy and the accuracy of elections. Read Article

Michigan clerk stripped of election duties after being charged for acting as fake elector in 2020 | Joey Cappelletti/Associated Pess

Stan Grot, the Shelby Township clerk in Michigan, will be prohibited from administering elections after being charged by the state attorney general for acting as a fake elector in the 2020 election for then-President Donald Trump. He was among 16 Republicans charged with signing false certificates stating that Trump won the state, not Biden. While Grot is innocent until proven guilty, his alleged role in the fake elector scheme undermines voter confidence in election integrity. Local clerks across the country have faced legal consequences for alleged crimes related to false claims about the 2020 election. Grot and the others are scheduled to appear in court on August 10. Read Article

Michigan judge rules law broadly bans ‘undue possession’ of voting machines | Craig Mauger/The Detroit News

Oakland County Circuit Judge Phyllis McMillen has ruled that it is illegal to possess a voting tabulator without authorization from the Secretary of State's office or a court order. The ruling comes as part of an ongoing case in Michigan, where a group of supporters of former President Donald Trump is being investigated for allegedly obtaining voting machines and spreading false claims of widespread voter fraud after the 2020 election. Under state law, undue possession of a tabulator is a felony. The ruling by Judge McMillen lays the groundwork for potential criminal charges in the case. Read Article

Michigan attorney in downstate election probe sought to move voting machine tampering case to Antrim County | Mardi Link/Traverse City Record-Eagle

Attorney Stefanie Lambert and others, accused of illegally obtaining voting machine tabulators after the 2020 presidential election, sought to move the case to Antrim County, Michigan, but were unsuccessful. The investigation by Michigan State Police involves allegations of a conspiracy to unlawfully access voting machines, and prosecutors are examining potential charges related to multiple crimes in multiple counties. The case involves allegations of orchestrated plans to gain access to voting tabulators and perform tests on the equipment. Lambert and others named in the investigation have denied any wrongdoing. The appointment of a special prosecutor is pending, and the issue of whether clerks have the authority to hand over election equipment without a court order is being debated in court. Read Article

Michigan: Charging decision in voting machine case imminent, per court record | Clara Hendrickson/Detroit Free Press

A special prosecutor in Michigan has sought a court interpretation of state election law regarding allegations of voting machine breaches by supporters of former President Donald Trump. The investigation involves accusations against individuals such as former GOP attorney general candidate Matt DePerno, lawyer Stefanie Lambert Junttila, and former state Representative Daire Rendon. The court's forthcoming interpretation will likely inform potential criminal charges, and a charging decision is expected once the court delivers its ruling. The request for interpretation was made by Muskegon County Prosecutor DJ Hilson, who aims to clarify the legal possession of voting machine tabulators. The matter arose after Junttila's attorney contested Hilson's interpretation of the law. Read Article

Michigan voter reforms have made it a model for strengthening democracy, report says  | Jon King/Michigan Advance

A report by the Center for American Progress highlights Michigan's election and voting reforms that have led to increased public trust in government. The report identifies three key components that have made Michigan a national model for strengthening democracy: increasing voter registration and turnout, ending partisan gerrymandering through an independent redistricting commission, and promoting citizen-initiated ballot measures. Michigan successfully implemented these reforms in a short period of time, including adding no-reason absentee voting, automatic voter registration, and early voting. The report also emphasizes Michigan's ability to close the gap in voter registration and turnout between white and Black voters. The overall result of these reforms has been the building and maintenance of public confidence in the state's democracy and election administration. Read Article

Michigan lawmakers move to enact voter-approved election changes | Clara Hendrickson/Detroit Free Press

Michigan lawmakers kicked off hearings Wednesday on legislation to update election laws to reflect changes approved by voters who passed a major expansion of voting rights in the state last November. Sixty percent of Michigan voters who participated in the 2022 midterm election approved Proposal 2 the "Promote the Vote" amendment to the state constitution. Among the most significant changes, the amendment requires election officials to offer at least nine days of early in-person voting during statewide and federal elections. Before the amendment's adoption, Michigan voters could cast an absentee ballot in person leading up to Election Day. But now they will be able to cast an in-person ballot just as they would at their polling location, placing it into the tabulator themselves. Read Article

Michigan: Security concerns raised over internet voting for military spouses | Ben Orner/MLive

Michigan's proposal to allow electronic ballot return over the internet is raising concerns among election security experts, including J. Alex Halderman, a cybersecurity expert and University of Michigan professor, who warns that it could seriously undermine the security of the state's elections. While Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson argues that Michigan can maintain election integrity through a custom-built hybrid model, experts caution that no existing technology can fully resolve the inherent vulnerability to digital tampering in such systems, posing significant risks to democracy and voter confidence. Read Article

Michigan: Voters oust clerk who doubts election results | Associated Press

Voters in one of Michigan’s most conservative counties have ousted a small-town clerk accused of improperly handling voting equipment after casting doubt on President Joe Biden’s election victory. Stephanie Scott lost Tuesday’s recall election in Hillsdale County’s Adams Township to Suzy Roberts, who got 406 votes to Scott’s 214, according to unofficial results reported by the county clerk’s office. Roberts, a Republican who identifies as an independent, filed as non-party-affiliated in the recall election because Michigan law does not allow for challengers to file under the same political party, the Hillsdale Daily News reported previously. Scott had run unopposed as a first-time Republican candidate when she was chosen in the November 2020 election to handle the voting in Adams Township, a reliably Republican community where the ticket of Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence received nearly 76% of the vote that year. But she joined a crew of GOP elections officials around the nation who have questioned the accuracy of U.S. voting systems. Scott is among a number of elections officials around the country accused of mishandling voting equipment in their zeal to uncover fraud. Full Article: Voters oust Michigan clerk who doubts election results | AP News

Michigan: Secret grand jury has probed post-2020 examination of voting machines | Robert Snell Craig Mauger/The Detroit News

A special prosecutor in Michigan has used the secret tool of a grand jury to weigh criminal charges against a group of Donald Trump's supporters who obtained and examined voting machines in the battleground state after the 2020 election. The grand jury has sought testimony from individuals as recently as early March in Oakland County, according to three sources familiar with the investigation, which centers on allegations of tampering with voting equipment. The sources requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss grand jury activity. The status of the investigation was unclear Monday, but the grand jury could represent one of a handful of opportunities nationally for criminal charges related to the push to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson, the special prosecutor investigating the tampering of voting machines in Michigan, would not comment on the existence of the grand jury. "If a grand jury was convened, I would be prohibited by court order and statute to confirm or deny its existence," Hilson said in a statement to The News. Hilson cited a state law that makes it a misdemeanor for a person to "publish or make known" any testimony and any proceeding conducted in connection with any grand jury inquiry. Multiple sources told The News in recent days they were legally barred from discussing what was happening behind the scenes with the investigation. Full Article: Secret grand jury has probed post-2020 examination of voting machines in Michigan