Michigan AG Nessel Opens Investigation Into Unlock Michigan

MICHIGAN — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is opening an investigation into the group Unlock Michigan following allegations that members associated with the group may have engaged in criminal activity in collecting petition signatures to repeal state law, Nessel's office announced Monday.

The AG's office said Monday it received complaints from residents who report they were deceived by petition circulators who were gathering signatures to support the efforts of Unlock Michigan, which is trying to repeal the 1945 Emergency Powers of the Governor Act. Residents said they were told the petitions were to support LGBTQ rights, for medical marijuana initiatives or to help small businesses, among other things, according to Nessel's office.

“Our democracy is firmly rooted in the principles of an informed electorate which makes decisions at the polls based on reason and beliefs over lies and deception,” Nessel said. “Our ballot initiative process allows efforts with strong public support to be presented to the Legislature. But that process becomes tainted when petition circulators manipulate and cheat to serve their own agendas. My office will investigate these allegations, and if there is a violation of law, we will prosecute those responsible.”

Related: Michigan Group Petitions To Revoke Whitmer Emergency Powers

The Emergency Powers of Governor Act of 1945 allows governors to issue state of emergencies during a crisis and has been used frequently amid the coronavirus pandemic by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Unlock Michigan, which calls itself a group of Michigan residents who oppose Whitmer's emergency declarations, said in a news release last week that it had reached 500,000 signatures and said it would turn the petition in to the bureau of elections "soon."

The Michigan AG's office has also received a letter from the League of Women Voters and another from election law attorney John Pirich calling for an investigation into Unlock Michigan’s signature-collecting efforts.

Any potential charges that may be filed against Unlock Michigan and its members will depend on whether criminal activity took place and the evidence compiled by the AG's office in its investigation, Nessel said.

Additional information and details about the investigation may be released at a later date, according to the AG's office.