Michigan Officials Reject DOJ Demand for Wayne County Election Records
Michigan’s governor, attorney general and secretary of state are fighting back against a DOJ demand for Wayne County’s 2024 election records, calling it political weaponization.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN — Michigan’s top state officials are pushing back against a federal demand for Wayne County’s 2024 election records, calling the request from the U.S. Department of Justice “absurd” and “baseless.”
Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel, and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson issued a joint statement condemning the DOJ’s request for all ballots, including absentee and provisional ballots, receipts, and envelopes from Wayne County’s 2024 presidential election.
The demand came last week from U.S. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who cited Wayne County’s alleged history of voter fraud as justification for investigating whether federal election laws were violated. Wayne County, Michigan’s most populous county and home to Detroit, has 14 days from April 14 to comply with the request.
Officials Challenge Federal Claims
Dhillon referenced three specific instances where residents either forged signatures on absentee ballots or impersonated other voters. However, Michigan officials noted these cases occurred during the 2020 election cycle, not 2024.
“Once again, President Donald Trump is weaponizing the Justice Department in an attempt to sabotage our democratic process and turn it into his own personal agency to interfere in state elections,” Nessel said in the statement. “This request is as absurd as it is baseless.”
The three cases cited by Dhillon were either prosecuted by the state or dismissed as a civil claim by a Wayne County Circuit Court judge. In at least one case, Costantino v. Detroit, supposed evidence of voter fraud was found to be “incorrect and not credible” by the courts.
Pattern of Federal Intervention
Michigan’s top officials described the demand as part of a troubling pattern from federal authorities targeting state elections. They noted similar requests have been made in Arizona, Georgia, and Missouri.
“Successful convictions underline that Michigan’s safeguards work and that instances of voter fraud are rare and addressed,” Nessel stated.
Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett, who administers election procedures in the county, is facing scrutiny from the DOJ despite the resolved nature of the previously cited cases. The federal investigation targets election procedures in Michigan’s largest county, which encompasses Detroit and surrounding communities.
State Response and Legal Precedent
The joint statement from Whitmer, Nessel, and Benson emphasized that Michigan’s election security measures have proven effective in identifying and addressing isolated instances of fraud. State officials maintain that the federal request lacks merit given the age and resolution of the cited cases.
The 14-day deadline for compliance means Wayne County must respond to the federal demand by April 28. The DOJ’s request encompasses comprehensive election materials from the 2024 presidential contest, including all ballot types and accompanying documentation.
Michigan officials continue to defend their election processes while criticizing what they characterize as federal overreach into state-administered elections. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between state and federal authorities over election oversight and investigation procedures.
