Election Denialists Claim They Are Laying the Groundwork for A DOJ Probe of Michigan

The DOJ’s Civil Division, led by Harmeet Dhillon, sent a letter to Wayne County Clerk demanding records from the 2024 election, claiming an investigation into alleged fraud. Michigan officials were baffled by the request, as cities and townships—not county clerks—administer elections in the state. The letter’s error left officials questioning whether the DOJ understood Michigan’s election structure, with one clerk comparing it to ordering the wrong item at a restaurant. This probe marks another step in the DOJ’s broader pattern of examining election claims, often aligned with conspiracy theorists now in government roles. Kurt Olsen, a 2020 election denier, serves as White House election security czar, while Heather Honey holds an election security position at the DOJ. The Wayne County request, however, targets the 2024 election—a year when Trump won Michigan—raising questions about its motivation, given the lack of prior scrutiny from election fraud activists. Activists like Yehuda Miller, who obtained Detroit’s 2020 ballots via a FOIA lawsuit, continue pushing unverified claims, despite Trump’s victory in 2024. Miller’s so-called audit, which relies on disputed documents, has fueled speculation that his findings may influence federal probes. Michigan elections officials, including retired state election director Chris Thomas, dismiss these theories as baseless but remain concerned about potential federal overreach tied to election denialism. The DOJ did not respond to requests for comment, and Miller declined to address the matter. Meanwhile, the DOJ’s actions in Michigan follow similar probes in Georgia and Wisconsin, where officials have also faced scrutiny over 2020 election claims. The pattern suggests a coordinated effort by Trump-aligned figures to resurrect election fraud narratives, despite limited evidence and shifting political priorities.