Topline
Three people were charged by the Michigan attorney general and secretary-of-state for trying to commit voter fraud in the 2020 elections, they announced Monday. They said the charges disprove other allegations of widespread fraud, as former President Donald Trump's allies continue making false claims about the state election.
On November 6, 2020, supporters of President Donald Trump demonstrated outside the TCF Center in Detroit, Michigan. AFP via Getty Images
The Key Facts
Michigan AG Dana Nessel, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced that Trenae Myesha Raney, Carless Clark, and Nancy Juanita Williams were charged following investigations into their alleged voter fraud. Rainey was an employee in an assisted living facility and was charged with election law fraud and forging signatures for absentee ballot applications. She allegedly filled out applications for residents that had not informed her about their desire to vote and then forged their signatures. Clark was accused of election law fraud and impersonating another voter at an election. She allegedly filled out applications for residents who had not told her they wanted to vote and forged their signatures. Three other people were also charged, including a county clerk who incorrectly recorded absentee ballots. Two parents who submitted separate ballots or applications for their daughters had previously been charged in Michigan with attempted electoral fraud.
Important Quote
"Our election system has been secure and today's charges show that when fraud does occur, we catch it and hold those responsible accountable," Benson stated in a statement. He also said that the charges sent a clear message for those who make deceitful claims of widespread fraud. The current protocols in place are designed to safeguard and maintain the integrity and integrity of our elections. It is time to tell the truth and stop spreading lies.
Big Number
5.5 million. According to the secretary-of-states office, that's the number of people who voted in Michigan's 2020 election. This means that the voter fraud cases that have been identified are far lower than even 1%.
Important Background
Trump and his associates claimed widespread fraud in Michigan, where President Joe Biden won the battleground. However, there is no evidence to support their claims in Michigan or in any other state. A June investigation by the Republican-led Senate Oversight Committee in Michigan found no evidence of widespread fraud in the state's election. Additionally, lawsuits in Michigan alleging fraud have overwhelmingly failed. Federal Judge recently sanctioned Sidney Powell and Lin Wood, far-right lawyers, for their unsuccessful litigation in Michigan alleging widespread fraud. The investigation by the Republican-led Senate Oversight Committee in June found no evidence of widespread or systematic fraud. Other battleground states also found very few cases of fraud in the 2020 elections.
What to Watch
Trump and his allies continue to make baseless claims about voter fraud in Michigan. In a Friday statement, Trump claimed that instances of voter fraud in Michigan were beyond belief. He called for a so-called "forensic audit" to examine the results. This follows similar partisan audits in other battleground state. On Tuesday, his supporters will rally at the Capitol to demand an audit. This is despite the fact that a similar probe in Arizona actually tallied more votes for Trump and less for Biden than the official state tally.
Continue reading
The GOP is pushing for Arizona-style election audits to be spread across the country, but state officials continue to find no evidence of fraud (Forbes).
Sidney Powell and Kraken Attorneys sanctioned for bringing a Michigan election fraud lawsuit (Forbes).
Michigan GOP loses again: Judge denies inexact and not credible attempt to block election results (Forbes).
