Michigan GOP House Holds Secretary of State Benson in Contempt Battle

Michigan’s Secretary of State Faces Contempt Over Election Documents

A contentious political standoff has erupted in Michigan as the state House, led by Republicans, passed a resolution Thursday to hold Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in contempt. The core of this dispute revolves around a legislative subpoena linked to election documents, with GOP lawmakers accusing Benson of non-compliance, while she argues their actions put election integrity at risk.

Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay Twp.), head of the House Oversight Committee, asserted the necessity of this resolution. “So at this moment, I believe there is no other path than introducing a resolution to allow this chamber to consider whether the Secretary of State should be held in contempt,” he stated, expressing confidence in the legality and appropriateness of the proceedings. The resolution passed the House with a 58-47 vote, divided along party lines, and saw five Democrats absent.

In contrast, Rep. Penelope Tserneglou (D-East Lansing), a member of the oversight committee, criticized the Republicans’ move as a manufactured controversy. She described the resolution as “an attack on election integrity” and emphasized the importance of safeguarding sensitive information that has not been disclosed due to potential risks to election security.

Jocelyn Benson, defending her position, highlighted that her office has already provided over 3,300 pages of documents to both the committee and the public. However, she maintained her stance against releasing documents that remain unvetted and unredacted, citing a potential threat to election security.

Following the vote, Benson expressed her frustrations in an online press conference, characterizing the government’s actions as chaotic and bullying. “This is government rooted in bullying and chaos and I’m tired of it,” she declared, highlighting the dangers she perceives in the current political maneuvering.

The resolution’s passage leaves the future uncertain. Benson has called for a neutral party, such as a judge, to mediate the deadlock, seeking a resolution to the ongoing impasse.