Michigan Officials Reject DOJ Request for Wayne County Ballots

Michigan officials rejected a U.S. Department of Justice request on Sunday for ballots and related materials from the 2024 election in Wayne County, the state's most populous area that includes Detroit, vowing to challenge the demand in court.

The Justice Department sent a letter dated April 14 to Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett, seeking all ballots, including absentee and provisional ones, along with ballot receipts and envelopes from the November 2024 federal election. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who oversees the department's civil rights division, cited past allegations of voter fraud in the county during the 2020 election as justification, stating the materials were needed to verify compliance with federal election laws. The letter gave county officials until April 28 to comply, warning that failure to do so could lead to a court order.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, all Democrats, released the letter and issued a joint response accusing the request of lacking basis. "This request is as absurd as it is baseless," they stated. Nessel added in the response that her office would protect...