(Source: MIRS.news, Published 11/04/2022) A decision on whether anyone, including Attorney General candidate Matthew DePerno, will face charges in a voting equipment tampering investigation will not come before Tuesday's midterms.
Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson, who was assigned to the investigation after Attorney General Dana Nessel recused her office, said his team, including himself, has reviewed the AG's "very extensive and thorough investigation" and that review continues.
"While my team will continue to diligently work with the Michigan State Police to move as quickly as possible, I will not sacrifice my ethical duty to make a fair and just decision, nor jeopardize the rights of any potential defendants by proceeding without all of the necessary evidence and information," Hilson said in a statement Friday. "For these reasons, a decision will not be made prior to (Tuesday)."
Nessel's petition seeking the appointment of a special prosecutor named DePerno, Ann Howard; Cyber Ninjas CEO Douglas Logan; Ben Cotton, founder of the digital forensics company CyFIR; analyst Jeff Lenberg; and expert James Penrose as well as attorney Stefanie Lambert Juntilla, state Rep. Daire Rendon (R-Lake City) and Barry County Sheriff Dar LEAF as potential targets.
DePerno has denied the allegations.
The petition alleges the unauthorized access of voting machines occurred between March 11, 2021, and late June 2021, and suggests charges. Logan, Cotton and Penrose were named expert witnesses in DePerno's Antrim County lawsuit alleging fraud in the 2020 election.
Hilson said the AG and MSP's investigation is extensive, but it also was "incomplete because it stopped when the Attorney General’s conflict was discovered." As a result, he ordered additional investigation.
"Obtaining a complete picture of the facts and circumstances of the investigation is essential prior to determining the next step in this process," Hilson's statement reads. "Given the complexities of this investigation, the time it takes to obtain and evaluate certain pieces of evidence is beyond our control."
Meanwhile, a Mitchell Research and Communications poll conducted for MIRS shows Nessel is up 47% to DePerno's 44% with 8% undecided. (See separate story in today's edition.)
