Michigan House, Secretary of State Begin Court-Ordered Mediation Over Election Document Subpoenas

The Michigan House of Representatives and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson are engaged in a legal dispute over the release of election training materials, leading to a court-ordered mediation. The Republican-led House sued Benson after she withheld some subpoenaed documents, citing concerns that full disclosure could jeopardize election security. Michigan Court of Claims Judge Sima Patel ordered the parties to mediate before Judge James Redford, with both Benson and House Speaker Matt Hall required to attend or send authorized representatives. Both sides must submit a joint list detailing the outstanding materials and descriptions before the mediation. The House asserts its right to access the documents to ensure election officials are properly trained in compliance with state law, while Benson emphasizes the need to protect sensitive information from potential misuse. This mediation reflects efforts to balance transparency with election security amid ongoing partisan tensions.