19 GOP Lawmakers Still Dodging Questions After Biden Wins Electoral College

By Laina G. Stebbins, Michigan Advance

The four GOP congressmen and 15 Republican state House members who backed a failed Texas lawsuit seeking to overturn the election for President Donald Trump still refuse to answer basic questions about the election outcome, even as Michigan’s 16 electors cast their votes for President-elect Joe Biden on Monday.

The longshot lawsuit brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was denied a hearing before the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday. One day before, Michigan U.S. Reps. Tim Walberg (R-Tipton), Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet), Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) and John Moolenaar (R-Midland) all signed onto a legal brief in support of the suit.

Fifteen House members also signaled their support: State Reps. Gary Eisen (R-St. Clair Twp.), John Reilly (R-Oakland), Julie Alexander (R-Hanover), Matt Maddock (R-Milford), Daire Rendon (R-Lake City), Beth Griffin (R-Mattawan), Douglas Wozniak (R-Shelby Twp.), Michele Hoitenga (R-Manton), Brad Paquette (R-Niles), Rodney Wakeman (R-Saginaw Twp.), Greg Markkanen (R-Hancock), Jack O’Malley (R-Lake Ann), Joe Bellino (R-Monroe), Bronna Kahle (R-Adrian) and Luke Meerman (R-Coopersville).

The Advance contacted the offices of all 19 legislators about their stances on the election and legislative intervention on Monday, requesting answers to the following questions:

• Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against the Texas case, do you accept that Joe Biden is the president-elect?
• Do you support or oppose Donald Trump’s continuing efforts to claim victory?

GOP lawmakers hide from questions about Trump’s quest to overturn the election

None of the Michigan GOP lawmakers or congressmen offered a response. This came even as U.S. Rep. Paul Mitchell (I-Dryden) announced he was leaving the GOP over its failure to accept election results. Mitchell, who is retiring this year, and U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) both acknowledged Biden’s win on Nov. 7, the day the Associated Press and media outlets called the election for the Democrat.

All of the House members questioned — as well as the rest of the GOP House members and all Senate Republicans — had also ducked a series of similar questions from the Advance last week.

Eisen did not answer the Advance, but did appear on WPHM radio Monday morning, where he lifted up conspiracy theories about the election and made remarks about a possibly violent counter-action at the Capitol during the Electoral College.

House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) condemned his comments afterwards and stripped Eisen of his committees for the rest of the term — which ends this week. He did not attend the pro-Trump demonstration following that action and expressed regret over any “confusion” about his comments. Eisen begins his second term in the new year and his committees presumably will be reinstated then.

Rendon and Maddock were both seen in front of the state Capitol Monday during the elector vote, alongside Republican activists. They attempted to enter the Capitol, which was closed due to credible threats, and submit a fake GOP elector slate, something Republicans tried in other battleground states.

It’s official in Michigan: Electoral College affirms Biden and Harris

The Texas lawsuit in question had cited baseless allegations of widespread election fraud and asked for the election in key states, including Michigan, to be overturned. The request would have also theoretically overturned the elections of the very lawmakers asking for the unprecedented court action, as all 19 GOP Michigan legislators won reelection last month.

The lawsuit had also called upon state legislators to have a larger say in selecting electors for the state. The process in Michigan does not provide any role for state lawmakers, however, per Michigan Election Law.

Paxton, a Republican, is under indictment for felony securities fraud in Texas. Seventeen other GOP-controlled states and Trump also supported Paxton’s lawsuit.

On Monday, Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum announced that she wants to see punitive consequences for the 19 Michigan GOP lawmakers who have publicly supported Paxton’s lawsuit and other right-wing efforts to illegally overturn the election.

AG calls GOP lawmaker’s Electoral College comments ‘open sedition’

Byrum, a Democratic former lawmaker, argues that the legislators have violated their oaths of office and should be investigated by Attorney General Dana Nessel.

“I am not going to stand idly by while these individuals disrupt and break down our democracy … without repercussion,” Bryum told the Advance Monday.

If Nessel does find the lawmakers to have violated their oaths, Byrum hopes that they will “be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Byrum initially requested on Monday that Nessel issue a formal legal opinion on the matter. After Nessel spokesperson Kelly Rossman-McKinney told the Advance that the AG’s office “can only issue opinions upon the request of a state official” — which does not include county clerks — Byrum said she is now “looking for a legislative sponsor to my request.”

“Regardless, if an opinion is issued or not, I would certainly settle for charges to be filed,” Byrum added. “… I don’t trust the Republicans to hold themselves accountable. And it’s really unfortunate it’s gotten this far.”

This story was originally published by the Michigan Advance. For more stories from the Michigan Advance, visit MichiganAdvance.com.