Mich. Secretary of State Rips Trump for Voicing Election Integrity Concerns (Newsmax)
By Jay Clemons | Tuesday, 08 November 2022 07:49 PM EST
Jocelyn Benson, the Michigan secretary of state who's also up for reelection during the midterms cycle, slammed former President Donald Trump on Tuesday for spreading "lies" about election integrity — for which she claims could eventually lead to political violence.
"This isn't true," wrote Benson, while responding to a Truth Social post from Trump that alleged voters in Detroit were being turned away from polling stations.
Benson, a Democrat, then added: "Please don't spread lies to foment or encourage political violence in our state. Or anywhere. Thanks."
Trump used his high-profile platform Tuesday to comment about various polling issues in Michigan, Arizona, and Pennsylvania — all battleground states.
"Same thing is happening with Voter Fraud as happened in 2020???" added Trump in a separate post.
The former president spent the last week touting various House, Senate, and gubernatorial candidates throughout the Midwest and southern states.
Trump has also endorsed Kristina Karamo — Benson's primary competition in Michigan — for the secretary of state position.
As Newsmax chronicled earlier Tuesday, election officials in Arizona's Maricopa County — easily the state's largest county — incurred major technical errors while tabulating votes.
At one time, there were reports of nearly 25% of votes in Maricopa County not being properly processed, fueling outrage directed at Arizona election officials — including Katie Hobbs, the current secretary of state who's also running for the governor's office (against Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake).
After the problems were initially reported, Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates, chair of Maricopa's elections board, and county recorder Stephen Richer released a video explaining the issue.
They also sought to reassure voters their ballots would be counted after taken to a central location.
"We've had a few tabulator issues at a couple locations where the tabulator isn't immediately taking the ballot," said Richer, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
"Instead it can either be central count tabulated here, or if that issue can be addressed there, then it can be fed into the tabulator — or voters can go to any of the other 221 voting locations," added Richer.
Trump's most prominent response to the tabulation problems in Arizona:
"They are now saying that about 20% of the so-called Voting Machines in Maricopa County are not counting the Votes that have been placed in the Machine. Only Republican areas? WOW! Kari Lake, Blake Masters, and all others are being greatly harmed by this disaster. Can’t let this happen, AGAIN!!! I believe Attorney General Mark Brnovich is on the case, big time. He has a chance to be the biggest hero of them all, and at the same time save our Country from this Cancer from within!!!"