The Michigan Bureau of Elections has issued a directive that Stan Grot, the Republican town clerk of Shelby Township, will be prohibited from administering elections while facing charges for acting as a fake elector in the 2020 presidential election. Grot was among 16 Republicans charged by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel for signing certificates falsely claiming that Donald Trump won the state. The charges include forgery and conspiracy to commit election forgery, carrying a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.
Grot, who has served as the Shelby Township clerk since 2012, declined to comment on the charges but stated his intention to comply with the directive. While he is barred from running elections, Grot will continue his other duties as township clerk, including agenda preparation and meeting documentation. Shelby Township, a Detroit suburb with a population of nearly 80,000, will be affected by this decision.
The letter from the secretary of state’s office emphasizes that Grot is considered innocent until proven guilty. However, his alleged involvement in the fake elector scheme has raised concerns about the integrity of elections and undermines voter confidence. This case is part of a broader trend where local clerks across the country have faced legal consequences for actions following Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of election fraud in 2020.
Former Clerks Accused of Breaching Voting System Technology
A former clerk in Colorado, Tina Peters, is currently awaiting trial after being indicted for allegedly attempting to breach voting system technology that is widely used across the United States following the 2020 election.
Investigation Reveals Misconduct in Colorado
Election Deniers Experience Defeat
Furthermore, in June 2022, it was reported that prominent election deniers in Colorado lost GOP races during the 2022 primaries.
Voting Equipment Mishandling in Michigan
Another case of election misconduct involves Stephanie Scott, a small-town clerk in Michigan. She was accused of improperly handling voting equipment after casting doubt on President Biden’s election victory. As a consequence, her election duties were stripped from her in 2021. Subsequently, she was also ousted by voters at a later date.
False Documents and Meetings
During an investigation into the matter, it was revealed that a group including Kathy Berden, the head of the Michigan Republican National Committee’s chapter, Meshawn Maddock, the former co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party, and Kent Vanderwood, the mayor of a west Michigan city, allegedly met inside the Michigan Republican Party headquarters on December 14, 2020. They signed a certificate falsely claiming to be qualified electors for Trump and transmitted these fraudulent documents to Congress and the National Archives.
Legal Proceedings Ahead
The 16 individuals involved in these misconduct allegations are scheduled to appear in an Ingham County district court on August 10 for an arraignment.
Conclusion
It is worth noting that one of the accused individuals, Grot, has previously held various positions, including county commissioner, county deputy treasurer, and assistant secretary of state. In 2018, he even sought the Republican nomination for secretary of state before dropping out due to family obligations and the political landscape at the time.
