Michigan AG Investigating Threats Against Wayne County Canvassers

WAYNE COUNTY, MI — Threats have been made against members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers following their decision last week to certify county election results, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Tuesday.

Nessel said her office is investigating the threats made against the board members, who last week deadlocked 2-2 to not certify the county's Nov. 3 election results before ultimately voting to approve certification.

“We will investigate any credible complaints of threats to government officials, elected or appointed, and will prosecute criminal conduct to the fullest extent of the law," Nessel said Tuesday. "Serving the people – regardless of party – is an honorable but sometimes difficult and thankless task. And while many of us have been subjected to hateful and often obscene insults, threats of violence and harm will not be tolerated.”

Nessel’s Criminal Investigations Division initiated its investigation shortly after the board's Nov. 17 meeting, Nessel said.

The board initially voted along party lines, with Wayne County Board of Canvassers Chair Monica Palmer and William Hartmann — two Republicans — voting against certification while Board Vice Chair Jonathan Kinloch and Allen Wilson, both Democrats, voted in favor of certification.

The board's decision to certify the election results came after Republican members of the board were criticized after a suggestion that all of Wayne County should be certified aside from the city of Detroit.

That suggestion, along with the board's initial vote, was followed by a public comment session that Palmer said was threatening.

"After the vote, public comment period began and dozens of people made personal remarks against me and Mr.. Hartmann," Palmer said. "The comments made accusations of racism and threatened me and members of my family. The public comment continued for over two hours and I felt pressured to continue the meeting without break."

In a public comment discussion with the Michigan Board of Canvassers Monday, Palmer spoke about how she had received text messages of women who had ostensibly been killed and then pictures of her daughter. She said she had received numerous threats.

Anyone with a specific complaint related to election fraud, misinformation or threats against public officials can report them by email to the Attorney General’s office.