For years, the radical left in Michigan — led by Attorney General Dana Nessel — has waged a vicious lawfare campaign against anyone brave enough to question the 2020 election.
One of their prime targets was Stephanie Scott, the former Adams Township Clerk in Hillsdale County. Scott was doing exactly what countless patriotic Americans demanded: examining voter records and election data to ensure the integrity of our elections.
Stephanie Scott- Image – INKL.com
The saga began when Adams Township Clerk Stephanie Scott — a Republican who ran for office to protect election integrity — became the target of Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson after she refused to allow updates to her township’s Hart voting machine. Scott was rightfully concerned that the “update” would compromise, or worse, erase critical 2020 election data that both Michigan and federal law require to be preserved for 22 months. Scott should be praised for her courage, as she was simply fulfilling her sworn duty to protect the integrity and chain of custody of the election equipment entrusted to her care.
On October 25, 2021, Scott received a threatening letter from Benson’s office, written by Director of Elections Jonathan Brater (with a copy sent to Dana Nessel’s office). Incredibly, the letter informed her that she was being relieved of her duties as an elected official — a full two days before the deadline to comply with their demands to “update” her tabulator.
Scott pushed back, explaining: “The deadline for the Public accuracy test (and potential reprogramming of the machine) is in two days. It was my understanding, via an email from the Deputy County Clerk, that the machine maintenance is not due until the end of the calendar year. The Hillsdale County clerk set an arbitrary August 2021 date for machine maintenance, of which I did not participate.”
She also questioned why the modems were plugged in all day during elections if their only purpose was to transmit results after the polls closed.
The letter “directed” Scott to provide immediate access to all election equipment and records — including the tabulator, voter assist terminals, absentee ballot applications, ballot envelopes, and polling place materials. It warned that her access to the Qualified Voter File would be suspended until further notice and that she would be charged with a misdemeanor if she refused to comply.
In a shocking display of intimidation, Michigan State Police then executed a search warrant on Adams Township Hall, seizing Scott’s computers and equipment.
The media and left-wing activists immediately demonized her, smearing her as some kind of dangerous criminal for simply trying to verify the accuracy of the 2020 vote in her township. She was ultimately recalled from her elected position as clerk — all because she dared to ask questions the establishment didn’t want answered.
And it gets even worse.
During the preliminary examination, Michigan Bureau of Elections Director Jonathan Brater was caught lying under oath. Under intense cross-examination, Brater contradicted statements he had previously made to the grand jury and ultimately admitted that his December 2020 directive — ordering clerks to delete data from 2020 electronic poll books — was unlawful and had not undergone proper rulemaking procedures. Had Brater testified consistently, many believe the grand jury would never have returned an indictment.
MI BOE Director Jonathan Brater
But today, justice finally struck back.
In a powerful Order Granting Motion to Quash Bindover, Hillsdale County Circuit Court Judge Sara S. Lisznyai delivered a decisive victory for election integrity. Judge Lisznyai completely dismissed all felony charges against both Stephanie Scott and her former attorney Stefanie Lynn Junttila (also known as Stefanie Lambert).
Hillsdale County Circuit Court Judge Sara S. Lisznyai
The charges — Computer Unauthorized Access, Conspiracy to Commit Computers Unauthorized Access, and Using a Computer to Commit a Crime — were based on a bogus interpretation of MCL 168.509gg(1), the statute listing certain voter registration information that is exempt from FOIA disclosure.
Judge Lisznyai didn’t mince words. She eviscerated the lower court’s bindover decision, ruling it was a clear “error of law” and an outright “abuse of discretion.”
In her scathing analysis, the judge wrote:
“MCL 168.509gg(1) does not contain additional language, such as ‘or otherwise’… confidentiality is not imposed by MCL 168.509gg(1) and the term ‘confidential’ is not in this section… By finding that there was a basis to bind over the felony charges against both Defendants, the Hillsdale District Court made the finding that MCL 168.509gg(1) had a confidentiality requirement. This Court finds that… that was an error of law and by definition it abused its discretion.”
The judge hammered home that the Legislature deliberately chose not to impose broad confidentiality requirements in subsection (1) — unlike other subsections of the same statute that use explicit language like “must not be used or released for any other purpose” or “confidential.”
Because the felony charges hinged on a nonexistent “confidentiality duty,” there was no probable cause for any of the computer-related felonies. All three felony counts against both women were quashed. The single remaining misdemeanor charge against Stephanie Scott was remanded back to the district court.
This is a complete and total victory on the serious charges.
Defense attorney David A. Kallman (who represented Scott) and Stefanie Junttila (who represented herself pro per) fought bravely against this outrageous persecution — and they just won big.
David A. Kallman – Senior Legal Counsel at Great Lakes Legal Center
From David Kallman’s press release that was just shared with the Gateway Pundit:
“This ruling is a complete vindication for our client, who from day one maintained that she acted legally and in good faith,” said David Kallman, senior partner at Kallman Legal Group. “The Court recognized what we have argued all along: there was never any criminal statute applicable to her proper and legal actions and, therefore, no crime was committed.”
Township officials cannot be prosecuted for hiring legal counsel and experts to assist them in carrying out their lawful duties under the law. Ms. Scott stated, “I am grateful that Judge Lisznyai followed the law and dismissed all these felony charges against me.” “
Just like last year’s alternate electors case that we won on behalf of Hank Choate, this case should never have been brought,” added David Kallman. “Our client is a local public official trying to carry out her lawful duties and the Attorney General weaponized criminal statutes against her in a manner never used in Michigan’s history. As a result, she was subjected to years of unwarranted legal jeopardy. Today’s decision restores her reputation and reaffirms the rule of law.”
The Gateway Pundit has been covering the weaponization of Michigan’s justice system against election integrity activists for years. Dana Nessel and her allies have turned the Attorney General’s office into a political hit squad. Today, a courageous judge said enough.
This ruling proves what we’ve been saying all along: Stephanie Scott was acting within the law the entire time. The real criminals are the ones who used search warrants, recalls, media smears, and perjured testimony to try to silence her.
The radical left is going to lose its mind over this one.
We salute Stephanie Scott, Stefanie Junttila, David Kallman, and every patriot who has stood up for free and fair elections in the face of this tyranny.
Please consider making a donation to Stephanie Scott’s legal fund by clicking HERE.
The fight continues — but today was a very, very good day for truth and justice in Michigan.
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Stay tuned to The Gateway Pundit — more updates coming as this case develops.
The post MASSIVE VICTORY for Election Integrity in Michigan! Judge SLAMS Lower Court, QUASHES ALL Felony Charges Against Township Clerk Stephanie Scott For Refusing To Give Up 2020 Election Equipment appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.