(Headline USA) A Michigan elections official was charged with ballot tampering and misconduct in office for her role in the August 2020 primary.
The Michigan Attorney General’s office announced last week that Kathy Funk, the former Flint Township clerk, “purposely broke a seal” on a ballot container so that, under Section 168. 871 of Michigan election laws, the ballots inside could not be counted in a recount.
“Election officials must uphold the integrity of their positions,” said Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. “Our department is committed to prosecuting election violations, regardless of the political party of the perpetrator.”
Election officials must uphold the integrity of their positions. Those who abuse that commitment undermine the very foundation of our democracy. Our department is committed to prosecuting election violations, regardless of the political party of the perpetrator. https://t.co/bnRmv41MsH
— Dana Nessel (@dananessel) March 12, 2022
Nessel did not share this same concern, however, in the direct aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, when thousands of Michigan voters submitted affidavits claiming fraud.
“If we do a deep-dive forensic audit similar to Arizona, it will do either one of two things,” Michigan Conservative Coalition spokesperson Matt Seely said in a statement at the time.
“It will prove that all of the politicians who say there’s nothing to see there, that they were right,” he said. “Or it will prove that there’s a big problem with the integrity of our elections and that we need to address it in a major way.”
Funk was seeking another term as clerk, according to Michigan Live, and denied through an attorney that she violated Michigan’s election laws.
“She says it’s absolutely not true,” Matthew Norwood, Funk’s lawyer, said, adding that she plans to plead not guilty to the charges.
If found guilty, she could face up to 10 years in prison.
