Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson Hit with Contempt of Court Motion Over Mishandling Poll Challenger Rules

Shane Trejo |

Nov 2, 2022

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has been hit with contempt of court allegations, with plaintiffs in a lawsuit filing a motion demanding she comply with an order regarding poll challenger guidance.

Benson is accused of refusing to comply with Court of Claims Judge Brock Swartzle’s order on Oct. 20 to change five sections of a 27-page manual regarding poll challenger guidance, which was originally published in May 2022. The claimants allege that Benson is dragging her feet in order to delay having to comply with the order before the Nov. 8 election.

“Defendants have been in contempt of the Court of Claims’ Opinions and Order since 10/10/22 by continuing to keep the May 2022 document on their website. It has now been thirteen days since entry of the Opinion and Order. To Plaintiffs’ knowledge, Defendants have made no effort whatsoever to correct their guidance – as mandated by this Court’s injunctive order,” the plaintiffs’ attorney Ann Howard stated in the motion.

“In fact, as of 10:03 a.m. today, the guidance on the Defendants’ website is the “May, 2022 guidance,” with a 6/07/22 “modified” date. This response to the Court of Claims’ order by the Defendants lures Michigan clerks, election workers and challengers into believing that the May 2022 guidance is appropriate. Defendants have the capability to communicate directly with local clerks and election officials with the click of a mouse, but have failed to do so,” Howard added.

Big League Politics has reported on pending lawsuits in the state of Michigan aiming to prevent Democrats from cheating in the midterms like they did in the 2020 presidential election:

“A new election fraud lawsuit filed in Michigan by Secretary of State candidate Kristina Karamo and members of election integrity activist groups references Relia-Vote, a computerized ballot production and analysis program that also conducts signature verification.

The lawsuit alleges problems with election procedures that are taking place across the state, in particular the TCF Center in Detroit, which was the major fraud center during the 2020 presidential election. The lawsuit was filed against Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey, the woman who directly oversaw the steal in 2020. The claimants are calling for mandatory ID to be presented for all Detroit residents to be able to vote.

The election officials are hiding behind the software within Relia-Vote in order to claim that the process is on the level. The individuals filing the lawsuit claim that the software can be easily manipulated by election officials, and there is no uniform standard to how the software is used to verify signatures.

“State was required to use the Michigan Administrative Procedures Act to promulgate rules for signature verification and that the SOS guidance informing clerks that the signatures were presumed valid and that the ‘any redeeming characteristic standard’ was unlawful,” the lawsuit reads.

“No signature comparison process has been made into a rule. The lack of a signature standard means that the process involving a mailed-in ballot investigation or online registration is unlawful; and as it is the only alternative that does not require an absentee voter to show identification at the precinct in order to obtain the ballot this entire scheme must be declared invalid,” the lawsuit continues.

The lawsuit also states that Relia-Vote was brought into Michigan during the 2020 presidential election through a $750,000 grant given to Detroit by the Center for Tech and Civil Living (CTCL), popularly referred to as “Zuckerbucks.” The lawsuit claims Relia-Vote is used to interface with the Qualified Voter File with no transparency to the public and no oversight from the state board of canvassers.”

Election integrity advocates are challenging corrupt Democrats in one of the most crucial battleground states in the nation. Their work is crucial in restoring democracy and strengthening faith in the election process.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson Hit with Contempt of Court Motion Over Mishandling Poll Challenger Rules

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