(Source: MIRS.news, Published 01/25/2024) "Business as usual" will continue for Kristina Karamo, the disputed chair of the Michigan Republican Party (MRP), even after yesterday's letter signed by Republican National Committee (RNC) General Counsel Michael Whatley and Chief Counsel Matthew Raymer.
In MRP General Counsel Dan Hartman's statement, he said Karamo spoke with RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel after her Jan. 13 special state committee meeting and Karamo was told by RNC lawyers that they do not involve themselves in state party disputes.
He said the two lawyers signing the letter which they specified was an initial review and nonconclusive was merely a statement of their opinion.
"While the letter is authentic, I do not care because their opinion is irrelevant to any resolution," Hartman said.
On March 2, Karamo's faction will elect delegates, a presidential nominee and two RNC committee members.
The chair of each state's Republican party serves on the RNC by default, which leads spectators to wonder if whomever the RNC recognizes would be the MRP chair.
However, the RNC said despite its limited power, it "unquestionably has the authority to determine, for its own purposes, who its voting members are."
As a result, the RNC could not conclusively rule on whether Karamo or Pete Hoekstra, the newly elected but contested Karamo replacement, would be a voting member of the committee.
Neither Karamo nor Hoekstra will be credentialed for the committee's winter meeting in Las Vegas slated for Jan. 30-Feb. 3, but both are being invited to attend as guests.
Meanwhile, an email from Rescue Michigan begs former President Donald Trump to speak out on the issue.
"Only you, Mr. President, can break the spell cast over the Michigan Republican Party, and can do so before our county conventions occur on February 15," the email reads.
