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Senate GOP probe: No systemic fraud in Michigan election

Jodi Westrick
/
Michigan Radio
Credit Jodi Westrick / Michigan Radio
/
Michigan Radio

Senate Republicans who investigated Michigan's presidential election say there was no widespread or systemic fraud.

In a report Wednesday, they also urge the state attorney general to consider investigating people who have made false allegations about results in Antrim County to raise money or publicity "for their own ends."

The GOP-led Senate Oversight Committee says citizens should be confident the outcome represents the "true results." Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump by about 155,000 votes, or 2.8 percentage points, in the battleground state.

State Senator Ed McBroom (R-Waucedah Township) chairs the Senate Oversight Committee. He says the report provides clarity on how the election was managed and that the results are accurate.

But McBroom says the report also recommends some changes, including laws to expand voter I.D. requirements, among other things.

“It’s clear there are some genuine vulnerabilities to the system. It’s clear there’s bad training or lack of uniform training and that led to a lot of confusion and problems that need to be dealt with.”

Trump and his allies have pushed debunked conspiracy theories and false information about voter fraud.

Democratic State Senator Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) complains that, after the election, the committee held numerous hearings featuring witnesses touting conspiracy theories.

“When I saw the president of the United States lying about what happened here in Michigan, I was incensed back in November. I was incredibly frustrated this committee was then used for weeks on end to give platform to those lies.”

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Copyright 2021 Michigan Radio

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Radio since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting. During his two and a half decades in broadcasting, Steve has won numerous awards, including accolades from the Associated Press and Radio and Television News Directors Association. Away from the broadcast booth, Steve is an avid reader and movie fanatic. Q&A
Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener.