Exclusive: The entire Republican delegation in Michigan’s House of Representatives, as well as the chairs of key committees, are demanding an explanation from state officials about the possible use of federal taxpayer money to fund Democratic-backed election activities.
In a letter to Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Republican Rep. Roger Williams of Texas, called for an investigation into whether public funds for voter registration drives involving federal agencies may have been used “to support President Biden’s re-election campaign.”
The request came after Williams sent a subpoena to the Small Business Administration in May, seeking records related to actions outlined in a falsified memorandum of understanding between the agency and Benson’s department.
This memo is Biden Executive Orders of 2021 According to the letter, the bill’s main focus is “promoting access to voting” and provides various instructions regarding voter registration.
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Williams, the House Small Business Committee Chairman, and his co-signers are seeking to determine whether there are documents that reflect their allegation that voter registration efforts conducted under the memorandum were strategically weighted to favor Democrats.
The letter claims that 39 of the 52 small business outreach events scheduled in Michigan will be held in “counties with the largest demographics targeted by the Democratic National Committee.”
“Additionally, 100% of the SBA Administrator and Deputy Administrator’s visits to Michigan took place in counties with the DNC’s largest target populations.”
Williams and co-signers, including Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), questioned the tendency for the efforts to be placed in areas that are a priority for the Biden administration and campaign.
“America is founded on the principles of free and fair elections, but the Biden administration appears uninterested in protecting our democracy,” McClain said Tuesday.
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“Instead, they are using the taxpayer-funded SBA to coordinate voter registration with the Michigan Secretary of State.”
She called the alleged actions an “abuse of power” that jeopardizes the integrity of future elections.
“I will not rest until I find out the truth. [this]” said McClain.
Williams added that evidence shows the SBA “has the ability to indirectly campaign for Biden in must-win states.”
“This is a stupid, and likely illegal, use of taxpayer funds. I thank my Michigan colleagues for partnering with us in this effort, and we will not stop until we have the SBA’s complete and full cooperation,” Williams said.
The letter cites a self-described “guerrilla journalist” who released a secretly recorded video in April. James O’Keefeshows Small Business Administration officials alleging that Small Business Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman’s travels were, at times, deliberately intended to “indirectly campaign” for Biden.
The video features Guzman visiting the hometown of Montana Sen. Jon Tester, whose seat is a must-win for Democrats to maintain control of the Senate, an SBA official said in the video.
Citing that background, the letter demanded Benson turn over all documents and communications between her department, SBA officials and outside contractors regarding Michigan’s voter registration.
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They also requested expense documentation related to the memo, the source of the expense payments and the name of the state official designated as Benson’s liaison with the SBA.
Benson was also asked to provide a list of relevant events in the Republican congressional district, including whether the Republican congressman and the state’s two Democratic senators, Gary Peters and Deborah Stabenow, had been invited.
“If either of the two Senators were invited and the Republican House member was not invited, please detail why they were not invited,” Williams wrote.
In response to past criticism of the Michigan Department of State’s (MDOS) work under the memorandum, spokesperson Angela Benander said the department is pleased to be part of a “first-in-the-nation effort” to work with the small business community and “play an active role in our democracy.”
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“Allegations that the program is being used to facilitate mass voting activity in a partisan manner are patently false,” Benander said, adding unilaterally that criticism of the voter registration web portal is unfounded because its use is virtually nonexistent.
But critics say the Biden administration’s agencies’ focus on such key battleground states continues to raise doubts.
Guzman previously said in a statement announcing the memorandum that it was intended to fulfill the Biden administration’s promise to promote civic engagement and protect and strengthen democracy.
“Small businesses are busy running their businesses, and by meeting them where they are, whether that’s through our website or small business outreach events, we can help them register to vote, promote civic engagement and make their voices heard,” Guzman said.
SBA representatives did not respond to questions about the authenticity of O’Keefe’s video.
