Michigan House Holds Secretary of State Benson in Contempt Over Election Materials

Michigan House Republicans voted along party lines to hold Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in contempt of the chamber after she failed to fully comply with a subpoena requesting unredacted election training materials. The Republicans, led by Representatives Jay DeBoyer and Ann Bollin, argued that the materials are necessary for legislative oversight of elections and accused Benson of stonewalling for months despite partial submissions that they deemed inadequate. Benson contended that releasing some information without redactions could compromise election security by enabling interference with ballot custody and election equipment, and called the contempt resolution political games. The resolution authorizes the House Office of Legal Counsel to pursue legal action to enforce compliance, with litigation considered a strong possibility. The dispute highlights ongoing tension between the Republican-led House, which asserts its constitutional duty to oversee elections, and Benson’s office, which prioritizes safeguarding sensitive election data amid concerns about misinformation and tampering attempts. Benson welcomed judicial mediation to resolve the impasse between transparency and election security.