Judge Dismisses Charges in Michigan Election Data Case
In a significant legal development, a judge in Hillsdale County has thrown out felony charges against former Adams Township Clerk Stephanie Scott and attorney Stefanie Lambert. These charges were linked to allegations of mishandling election data following the 2020 presidential election.
The Michigan Attorney General’s office accused Scott of improperly distributing sensitive election information, claiming that a specific state law protects certain voter records from public access under the Freedom of Information Act. This data included personal identifiers like ID numbers and digital signatures.
However, the defense, led by attorney David Kallman, argued that the exemption from FOIA did not equate to a prohibition on sharing such data with a private legal advisor. Kallman emphasized, “This isn’t criminal. I mean, this just has to do with whether or not an official has the discretion to release information or not. You know, like any regular FOIA request that gets made every day of the week.”
Kimberly Bush, a spokesperson for the attorney general’s office, expressed disappointment with the court’s decision, which she claims misinterprets the legal protections around voter information. She noted the potential for an appeal, saying, “The Court’s opinion wrongly suggests that election officials can release sensitive voter information protected from disclosure by state and federal law. While we are considering our next steps, including making a determination regarding an appeal, we are extremely disappointed and concerned about the implications this may have on upcoming elections.”
Defense lawyers have accused the state of pursuing charges based on political motivations. Kallman criticized the prosecution, suggesting that the attorney general’s office was targeting Scott’s codefendant, Lambert, due to her connections. Both Scott and Lambert were charged in May 2024.
Lambert, known for her association with former President Donald Trump and his 2020 election challenges, successfully had her charges dismissed in this case. Nonetheless, she still faces other criminal charges in Oakland County regarding alleged unauthorized access to voting machines. This separate case is currently on hold pending an appeal concerning jury instructions.
Attorney Peter Ticktin, representing Lambert in the Oakland County case, echoed sentiments of overreach by the state, asserting that local officials hold more authority than acknowledged by the prosecution. He sees the recent Hillsdale ruling as a positive sign for their ongoing legal battle, stating, “If it weren’t so blatant, the Court of Appeals would not have permitted us to appeal. You have to ask permission to appeal.”
The outcome of these cases will likely hinge on forthcoming appeals, a common occurrence in legal proceedings.
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