DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – President Donald Trump created a flurry of responses after suggesting the federal government should step in and take “crooked” elections and then mentioned Detroit by name.

“Rigged, crooked elections.”

President Trump said, “Go to 2020. Look at the facts that are coming out. Rigged, crooked elections … Take a look at Detroit. Take a look at Pennsylvania. Take a look at Philadelphia. You go take a look at Atlanta,” Trump said. “Look at some of the places that — horrible corruption on elections. And the federal government should not allow that.”

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Trump continued: “The federal government should get involved. These are agents of federal government to count the votes. If they can’t count the votes legally and honestly, somebody else should get involved.”

What does the Constitution say?

The U.S. Constitution states, “The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing [choosing] Senators.”

That led some Michigan officials to claim the Constitution wouldn’t allow a federal takeover, at least without passing laws to allow it.

“Yesterday, President Trump suggested unconstitutionally federalizing Michigan’s elections,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a social media post. “He talked about sending federal agents in to take control away from local clerks. Let me be very clear: any attempt by the federal government to take over Michigan elections should be viewed as an attempt to take away Michiganders’ constitutional right to vote. It won’t happen on my watch.”

 

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