GOP leaders say they'll act if Benson won't 'fully comply' with election information subpoena

Michigan House Republican leaders say Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is backing out of her transparency pledge if she refuses to comply with a subpoena. The subpoena sent this week by the GOP chair of the House Oversight Committee demands materials related to elections training and management.

The Democratic Secretary of State is pushing back against the wide-ranging subpoena seeking a variety of materials including manuals, training videos and online resources. Benson said the materials include sensitive information that could jeopardize election security. Her office has already turned over much of the material, but Benson said some will be held back while it is reviewed and sensitive portions redacted.

Representative Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay), who chairs the House Oversight Committee, said the secretary of state doesn’t get to pick and choose what she’ll share.

“They tell us they’re going to thumb their nose at the duly structured organization that has the right to do oversight on government,” he said. “That’s not transparency. That’s called stonewalling.”

DeBoyer appeared alongside House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) at the GOP leader’s weekly news conference.



https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2025-04-24/gop-leaders-say-theyll-act-if-benson-wont-fully-comply-with-election-information-subpoena