Source: Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead
Posted on 03/17/2021 6:50:42 AM PDT by Kaslin
Source: Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead
It's too late now, but vindication came to one of the Trump campaign election violation claims lobbed after Election Day. The Michigan courts ruled that Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson overstepped her authority when she issued unilateral changes for absentee ballots in the state. It all centered on voter signature verification. If she wanted to do that, she was going to have to get the state legislature’s approval. There was a reason why she didn’t pursue this route: Michigan’s state legislature is majority Republican. So, she took this for a spin, and it worked. The Trump campaign’s claim was vindicated, but the damage is done. President Dementia is in the Oval now (via Breitbart):
A Michigan judge ruled last week Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) broke state law when she unilaterally issued rules related to absentee balloting, legitimizing a key claim made by the Trump campaign in its legal challenges to the 2020 election.
Benson issued several unilateral orders during the 2020 election including sending absentee ballot applications to all registered voters. She also issued “guidance” on how to evaluate absentee ballots, a move Michigan Court of Claims Chief Judge Christopher Murray held violated the state’s Administrative Procedures Act.
In the guidance, Benson said “slight similarities” in signatures on absentee ballots should lead a counter to decide “in favor of finding that the voter’s signature was valid.”
Murray ruled Benson violated the law “because the guidance issued by the Secretary of State on October 6, 2020, with respect to signature matching standards was issued in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act (APA).”
“I’m glad the court sees Secretary of State Benson’s attempts at lawmaking for what they are — clear violations of her authority,” Michigan state Rep. Matt Hall (R) said in a statement.
“If she wants to make changes like these, she needs to work with the Legislature or properly promulgate them through the laws we have on the books — in this case the Administrative Procedures Act,” he continued.
[…]
Signature validation rules created without the approval of a legislature was one of the issues the Trump campaign and Republicans claimed was done illegally in the 2020 election.
This happened in many states. https://t.co/oDAwxfYrQS— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) March 16, 2021
We all know Democrats play dirty. I think we underestimated how low they would go and didn’t plan for every possible scenario in that regard. We just have to swallow the defeat, but also learn to play dirtier when the time comes. Win at all costs—no matter what. This is a new era, folks. There are no media brownie points for being the so-called ‘better person.’ There’s no return on investment for being the good guy. No one cares about that anymore. This is politics. At some level, the American voter expects whoever is running on whatever ticket to be a little scummy. Yet, this ruling also brings into question whether Biden truly received over 80 million legal votes. I’m not so sure. I would heavily bet against that.
Primary the Republican legislature.
Makes the state look like Paraguay.
And now she should be Required to PAY THE BILL for a Complete Recount and Verification of ALL Absentee Ballots, including All costs of this Investigation and Court proceedings.
JUST LIKE THEY DO TO NORMAL CITIZENS!!
Why do DemonRats get to win even after their election cheats are finally acknowledged?
And the penalty for this?
I suspect some strongly written letters of protest will be written by Republican leadership. Or maybe not.
Only to those of us that already know.
Great.....the court finds you guilty of robbery,but you get to keep the money
Trump was right.
Until Republican state lawmakers put in place criminal penalties for state officials overstepping their authority nothing will happen. Democrats don't play by Marquis of Queensbury rules.
Because we no longer hang them.
The exact same thing happened in Pennsylvania; Sec of State made decisions in violation of the law. BUT, PA Supreme Court (dims) said “Nothing to see here.”
Consequences?
When does she lose her job, her retirement, and any academic qualification that would allow her to get a job anywhere except at DSW?
Without severe consequences there will be no behavioral changes.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s actions gave aid and comfort to the enemy. Indict. Try. Convict. Sentence.
Jonathon Turley offers a better explanation of what happens plus he includes a link to the court decision itself.
Court: Michigan Secretary of State Broke The Law On Absentee Ballot Guidelines In The 2020 Election
In short:
1) MI Secretary of State violated law
2) MI Secretary of State still gets to oversee the audit of her own law-breaking (which is of course absurd)
2) There is no substantive relief for plaintiffs, because 'Eff You Trump Supporters.'
This is how they do elections in Venezuela.
Without severe consequences there will be no behavioral changes.
I think the penalty should be enforced with extreme prejudice. Now what should it be, how about boiling in oil.
I am of the opinion that the legislature should now move to impeach the SOS.
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