The Michigan GOP's disastrous election year continues.....

[marmar]

Michigan GOP pick for AG may face criminal charges in voting machine probe. Now what?

(Detroit Free Press) The Republican vying to become Michigan's next attorney general is under criminal investigation for allegedly being "one of the prime instigators" of a scheme to illegally access voting machines in an effort to undermine the 2020 election, according to the Office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

While it was already well-known that GOP candidate Matthew DePerno — who received former President Donald Trump's endorsement last September — could be the subject of a criminal probe for his work on the Antrim County election conspiracy lawsuit, the fact Nessel's office believes he may have broken the law raises substantial procedural and political questions.

Her office wants a special prosecutor to take over the case and review whether charges are necessary. DePerno suggests he's the victim of a witch hunt. And Republicans are set to formally choose their nominees for statewide office later this month.

Here's what we know:

What is DePerno accused of doing?

DePerno, state Rep. Daire Rendon, R-Lake City, and others allegedly "orchestrated a coordinated plan to gain access to voting tabulators" in an illegal manner, according to a request from Nessel's office for a special prosecutor to review the matter. While formal charges have not been filed, the document lists a series of possible law violations:

Conspiracy, MCL 750.157a;

* Using a Computer System to Commit a Crime, MCL 752.796;
* Willfully Damaging a Voting Machine, MCL 168.932(b);
* Malicious Destruction of Property, MCL 750.377a;
* Fraudulent Access to a Computer or Computer System, MCL 752.795(a);
and False Pretenses, MCL 750.218

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https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2022/08/09/attorney-general-candidate-deperno-probe/10267395002/