AG, SOS: DOJ’s Justification For Election Monitors Based On Unsubstantiated Claims

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) told Detroit, East Lansing and Lansing that election monitors will be sent to their cities for the August primary, which top state leaders say is based on numerous unsubstantiated claims.

Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel warned that her office “stands ready to hold accountable those who attempt to unlawfully interfere with or intimidate Michigan election workers,” while Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson reiterated her mantra that the state’s elections are “transparent, accurate, accessible and secure.”

A DOJ spokesperson confirmed that those three cities were told the last week of June of the department’s “intent to send election monitors” for the Aug. 4 primary, but she declined to share a copy of the letters sent to the cities.

“These jurisdictions have received Civil Rights Division monitors in past elections under previous administrations as well,” the DOJ spokesperson said without elaborating.

Each of the three cities is a Democratic stronghold and arguably is President Donald TRUMP administration’s attempt to scrutinize Michigan’s elections.

A Detroit spokesperson with the Mayor’s office said the city’s clerk is preparing the city’s response, which will be available later this week, along with the letter received.

Carrie Sampson, communications director for East Lansing, also said the city is reviewing the letter and "expects to have a response to it by the end of this week.”

Lansing Mayor Andy Schor and city Clerk Chris Swope said in a joint statement the city will “gladly provide documents and information to all lawful requests,” but as local voters and observers know, claims about difficult or abnormal voting practices “are simply false.” A copy of Lansing's letter was not provided as requested.

Trump continues to say that widespread fraud caused him to lose Michigan’s 2020 presidential election, but those claims have yet to be validated in a court of law.

The letters follow the DOJ’s unsuccessful attempt to gain access to Michigan’s unredacted qualified voter file.

Nessel said in a joint statement with Benson that courts have repeatedly said states run elections, not the federal government.

“Michigan law provides not only a variety of ways to vote, but also plenty of opportunities to get involved in the election process,” Nessel said, adding that residents can witness the tabulators testing and volunteer as poll workers or election inspectors.

“The law even provides parameters for federal and congressional poll monitors,” Nessel added. “We encourage everyone to participate and see for themselves how secure and fair our elections are.”

Benson, also a Democrat who is seeking the governor’s seat, said the DOJ “continues to pursue baseless allegations to confuse voters” and welcomes all to observe the election process, in compliance with state law.

“When they do, they will see what we already know to be true – Michigan’s professional local clerks are committed to ensuring our elections are safe, accessible and fair,” she said.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, who is running for secretary of state, said Trump and his administration have shown “they will do anything to try to intimidate Michigan voters and interfere in our elections.

“They lied about election fraud,” he added. “They’re coming after our voter rolls. They’re using coercion to try to end vote by mail. And now they want to ‘monitor’ our polling places. It is all part of the same playbook.”

The Michigan Republican Party (MRP) applauded the federal government’s decision, saying it signals long-overdue pushback against the state’s election integrity crisis.

“After years of suspicious activity, lax rules repeatedly struck down by courts, and blatant attempts to obscure the counting process, this scrutiny is both justified and necessary,” said MRP Chair Jim Runestad, citing a Muskegon canvasser who “dumped an enormous batch … of voter registration applications” on the city clerk’s office in 2020.

“Many were obviously fraudulent: forged signatures, fake or nonexistent addresses, and clear patterns of fabrication,” he added. “Local police investigated, the matter went to the FBI, and while officials later insisted no fraudulent votes were ultimately cast from the tainted forms, the scale of the attempted fraud was staggering. This was not a handful of isolated mistakes. It was a coordinated push to flood the rolls in a key area.”

House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) also backed the DOJ's move, saying Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton) had requested the monitors and said he appreciated the Trump administration listening to him.

“I think it’s good to have more people watching in these cities to make sure that every vote is counted and that there’s no cheating,” Hall said.

Asked about concerns that monitors could be used to intimidate voters, Hall said he did not see a problem with having more people watching to ensure votes are counted.