LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Nearly two dozen Michigan lawmakers penned a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi asking that her department oversee the state’s elections next year.
State Senator Aric Nesbitt (R-Porter Township), a Republican running for governor, and 21 GOP colleagues signed the letter. Among other things, the letter cited an “inherent and unavoidable conflict of interest” as Democratic Michigan Secretary of State and chief election official Jocelyn Benson is also on the ballot for governor.
“From issuing driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants to Chinese nationals voting in our elections, all signs lead to the same conclusion: Jocelyn Benson is the worst secretary of state in American history and cannot be trusted to manage our elections,” the letter said. “We’re blessed to have President Trump and Attorney General Bondi in office, and I’m confident that they can safeguard our elections from any outside or inside interference.”
Ignoring subpoenas.
Circumventing the law is nothing new to Benson. For months, she’s stonewalled the Michigan House by refusing the completely comply with their subpoena requesting her release of election training materials. She released some documents, but Rep. Rachelle Smit (R-Martin) repeatedly said those are not the complete requested documents, and some are irrelevant to the subpoena. That proceeding is now in mediation.
In addition, Benson is also refusing to cooperate with Bondi and the DOJ regarding voter registration. The letter continued, “On Sept. 25, 2025, the DOJ filed a lawsuit against her and the state of Michigan for failing to provide unredacted voter registration records, in violation of the Civil Rights Act, the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act. This refusal to hand over critical election materials hinders federal efforts to verify compliance with voting rights laws and raises serious questions about transparency in Michigan’s election
administration.”
Ignoring newly signed law.
That’s not all. According to media reports, Benson spokeswoman Angela Benandar said Benson is not relinquishing control of her department’s IT projects, including a failed $9 million website overhaul marked with numerous glitches. Benson spoke before a House committee regarding this failure during the summer. Apparently, Benson thinks the language in the newly signed budget “codified our existing practices and policies.”
Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay Township) reminded Benson that she is incorrect and the law states her department cannot keep control of IT. “Secretary Benson continues to sidestep her responsibilities that are plainly laid out as it pertains to this issue.” He added, “We have seen a pattern of taxpayer-funded services at the Secretary of State, including in IT, not working as intended” and squandering taxpayer money. “That is why we spoke to Secretary Benson this summer and why we made this change,” DeBoyer said.
SOS candidate pushes the panic button.
In addition, Democratic candidate for Secretary of State and Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum appears to be panicking. In an email to constituents on Thursday, Byrum claimed that Nesbitt wants, “FBI agents in every precinct looking over voters’ shoulders and intimidating them.”
MORE NEWS: Middle East Expert: Americans ‘Lulled’ Into False Sense of Security on Terrorism
Byrum also added that [current State Senator] Ruth Johnson oversaw her own run for State Senate, Terri Lynn Land oversaw her own run for Lt. Governor, and Johnson and Land both oversaw their own re-elections, without any need for federal intervention.” What Byrum left out is that neither one were under state and federal scrutiny at the time.
