Michigan Political Dispute Heads to Court Over Election Material Access
In a significant legal confrontation, Michigan’s Republican-controlled House and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson are set to face off in court over the handling of election materials. The conflict has emerged from a lawsuit filed by House Republicans aiming for compliance with a legislative subpoena by the Democratic Secretary of State.
The lawsuit, submitted to the Michigan Court of Claims, accuses Benson of delaying the release of election-related documents requested by the House Oversight Committee, suggesting her objections are not grounded in rationality.
“The Secretary of State just does not want to abide by the constitution or the law, period,” stated Representative Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay), who leads the oversight committee, in comments to Michigan Public Radio. “She just does not want to, and now here we are in court.”
Last month, the House voted along party lines to pursue civil contempt proceedings against Benson, escalating the dispute further.
On the other side, the Secretary of State’s office argues that releasing certain sensitive information could potentially jeopardize election integrity, posing risks such as ballot chain interference or equipment tampering. Secretary Benson, who has criticized Republican actions as attempts to undermine confidence in electoral processes, is prepared to let the judiciary decide the issue.
“While we are committed to transparency, we will never compromise our duty to ensure Michigan’s elections are safe and secure,” said Department of State spokesperson Cheri Hardmon. “We look forward to working with a judge to come to a resolution that will resolve this dispute.”
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