Caucus letter to AG Nessel urges investigation into election lie profiteering

 

LANSING, Mich., August 5, 2021 — House Democratic Leader Donna Lasinski (D-Scio Township) and state Rep. Joe Tate (D-Detroit) renewed calls for a committee to investigate Michigan’s ties to the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. For months, House Dems have spoke about the events that necessitate an investigation, including:

  • The dress rehearsal for the insurrection taking place at Michigan’s Capitol in April 2020, when armed demonstrators swarmed the building.
  • Sitting legislators tried to fraudulently enter the state Capitol to cast electoral votes for Donald Trump.
  • The Senate majority leader having ties to militia members who plotted to kidnap and execute Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and took part in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Despite this, the Republican majority has refused to take up Lasinski’s House Concurrent Resolution 10, which would create a bipartisan panel to examine the connections between Michigan and the events of Jan. 6. House Democrats have launched an online petition, at https://housedems.com/mi-capitol-insurrection-committee/, so that Michiganders can show their support for the investigation.

“We know the events in Michigan and the events in D.C. are intertwined. We need to untangle those knots and follow those threads to get a full accounting of these connections and make sure nothing like this ever happens again,” Lasinski said. “A majority of our state supports an investigation into Michigan’s unique role in the insurrection. It’s past time for Republicans to step up and help us defend our democracy.”

Following the release of a report calling for investigations into people who have used lies about election fraud for their own gain, Tate and Leader Lasinski along with other House Democrats sent a letter of support to Attorney General Dana Nessel’s efforts to hold those profiteers accountable.

“We must fight to protect our democracy,” Tate said. “It is important that we don’t let these lies about the election go unchallenged. That’s why we pledge our support for the Attorney General’s investigation and continue to pursue a legislative commission to thoroughly investigate Michigan’s role in the Jan 6 attack.”

 

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