LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson may be used to playing by her own rules, but the Michigan House refuses to engage in that game.

Civil contempt resolution.

A resolution passed on Thursday declares Benson in civil contempt for defying a subpoena issued by the Michigan House which requested election training materials. The resolution directs the House counsel to “take steps necessary and proper to ensuring compliance with the House’s subpoenas, including the initiation of legal action.”

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State Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay Township) said since Benson is evading responsibility, a legal battle is inevitable. “Our Secretary of State is clearly very determined to fight our efforts to actually do our job of overseeing the other branches of government and making informed decisions as legislators,” DeBoyer said. “While it’s very tragic that one of our highest-ranking governing officials has made herself the enemy of accountable government, we are not going to let her stand in the way of transparency.”

Benson hits back.

In a Zoom conference with the media, Benson called today’s actions by the House a “circus” and said she’s committed to protecting secure information. She explained that secure information includes “operations of how to run elections” and information that could be used to “impersonate clerks.”

“A mediator should come and sort this out,” Benson said.

Thursday’s actions follow months of back-and-forth between the House and Benson over her election training materials. House leaders want to see what instructions Benson gave Michigan clerks during election time. Benson has argued that the records the House wants are publicly available and has turned over the requested documents. DeBoyer and Rep. Rachelle Smit (R-Martin) argue those documents do not fulfill the subpoena.

DeBoyer blasted Benson’s actions so far. “This is lawless behavior, and this is the Secretary of State essentially thumbing her nose at the institution – thumbing her nose at everything that makes our structure of government viable.”

Developing….