LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – After an investigation involving the Michigan State Police and the Attorney General’s office over concerns about possible unauthorized access to Michigan’s voter database, the Antrim County clerk case has ended with considerably less drama than it began.
No charges. No evidence of sensitive county files being accessed. No attempt to get into the Qualified Voter File (QVF), Michigan’s statewide voter registration database containing voter records and used by election officials to administer elections. Apparently, the clerk’s husband was just watching a livestream.
Michigan Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Aug. 6 that her office has closed its review of Antrim County Clerk, Republican Victoria Bishop, after investigators found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing stemming from Bishop allowing her husband unsupervised access to her office and county computer.
From possible security breach to livestream viewing.
The case began after concerns were raised that Bishop’s husband, radio host Randy Bishop, had been allowed unsupervised access to the clerk’s office and potentially her county computer.
Because the office contains sensitive county records and provides access to Michigan’s QVF, the Michigan State Police investigated and referred the matter to Nessel’s office for review.
According to the Attorney General’s office, Bishop did allow her husband to occupy her office and likely use her county computer – but investigators determined it was apparently used to watch a livestream of an ongoing County Commission meeting.
In addition, the Bureau of Elections confirmed there was no attempt to access the QVF during the period in question, and investigators found no evidence that sensitive county files were accessed.
Nessel: Still a bad idea.
While clearing the case of criminal wrongdoing, Nessel wasn’t exactly handing out a Best Office Security Practices award. “There are obvious concerns with any county clerk allowing unsupervised and unauthorized access to their computers, workspaces, and files,” Nessel said.
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She called the QVF “essential election infrastructure” and said clerks have a responsibility to safeguard it. Nessel said her office was closing the case after finding “no evidence of criminal wrongdoing,” while calling the incident “a clear misstep” in proper security practices.
Case closed, lesson delivered.
What remains after the investigation is a fairly straightforward lesson for elected officials entrusted with sensitive government computers: Maybe don’t let your spouse use them – even if he just wants to watch the county commission meeting.
