Chatfield: Michigan could face 'constitutional crisis'

[struggle4progress]

November 22, 2020
Written by:Jonathan Oosting

LANSING — Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield on Sunday warned that contested election results could create a “constitutional crisis” that the state’s Republican-led Legislature may have to resolve, a prospect for which President Donald Trump is openly advocating ...

The canvassing board, composed of two Democrats and two Republicans, is set to meet at 1 p.m. to consider unofficial results showing Democrat Joe Biden won the state by more than 154,000 votes. Experts say the canvassers have a legal duty to confirm results already certified by all 83 Michigan counties ...

Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel and Michigan Republican Party Chair Laura Cox on Saturday called for canvassers to delay certification for two weeks in order to audit results from Wayne County and Detroit, an unprecedented step that does not appear to even be legal under current state law.

If the board deadlocks 2-2 along partisan lines, experts say the Michigan Court of Appeals would likely order canvassers to certify the results. Chatfield, R-Levering, predicted the matter could end up before the Michigan Supreme Court ...

https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/lee-chatfield-michigan-could-face-constitutional-crisis-over-election

[Eyeball_Kid]

1. Michigan GOPers are bucking for permanent minority status.

Go for it, babies.

[jalan48]

2. From the Article..

Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel and Michigan Republican Party Chair Laura Cox on Saturday called for canvassers to delay certification for two weeks in order to audit results from Wayne County and Detroit, an unprecedented step that does not appear to even be legal under current state law.

If the board deadlocks 2-2 along partisan lines, experts say the Michigan Court of Appeals would likely order canvassers to certify the results. Chatfield, R-Levering, predicted the matter could end up before the Michigan Supreme Court.

And if Michigan justices do not order canvassers to certify, “now we have a constitutional crisis in the state of Michigan that’s never occurred before,” Chatfield told Fox News.

Democrats fear that could open the door to an Electoral College coup that would overturn election results, a scenario Trump explicitly called for in a series of Saturday evening tweets.

[dware]

4. What the article leaves out, as does Chatfield,

is that Gov. Whitmer can, by law, remove those that don't certify and appoint those that will follow the law, this is a long ways from going to the MI SC, which is very highly unlikely to happen.

[jalan48]

6. So it will be a done deal if she appoints new members? No appeals allowed to her action?

[Statistical]

9. I mean you can sue anyone over anything. Will you win in court is another question altogether.

So if she replaces the members I fully expect the GOP to sue requesting a restraining order preventing that from happening. I also fully expect a judge to dismiss.

[jalan48]

12. I thought this was Trump's strategy. Delay and keep it tied up in the courts so that certification

doesn't happen by the required deadline, thus allowing the SCOTUS to rule (or not).

[Statistical]

14. The courts haven't shown any interest in doing that though.

Court cases have been decided quickly and decisively against Trump.

So if the gov is forced to replace the two Republicans I 100% expect someone from the GOP will file suit. In fact I would be shocked if they don't and they would seek a restraining order. That may delay things a few days but it would be quickly resolved the new board members seated and the results certified.

Like the rest of the Trumpaloo efforts it is too little and not dragging it out enough. If they certify on Nov 30th instead of Nov 23rd in the grand scheme of things it will be a nothing burger. Now it is still sad for our democratic process but it isn't going to change the outcome.

[jalan48]

15. I hope you are right.

[Thekaspervote]

19. Exactly! I don't know don't care what the state congress person is saying

MI law is very clear...and he has no say

[hlthe2b]

3. MI Supreme Court has a Democratic Majority, btw.

[gollygee]

7. Not until January. We voted in two Democrats but they aren't on the court yet. nt

[Kaleva]

16. One of the Dems is an incumbent.

"Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget McCormack easily retained her seat in Tuesday's election, and the balance of power on the seven-member court hinged on results for the other contested seat.

The contest for the other seat was closer, but Grand Rapids attorney Elizabeth Welch, a Democratic nominee, was in second place and had built a lead of more than 130,000 votes over former St. Clair County Assistant Prosecutor Mary Kelly, who was in third place, with about 87% of precincts reporting."

https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/11/04/michigan-supreme-court-results/6158401002/

[gollygee]

20. Yes but right now there's a slight Rep majority, and in Jan there will be a slight Dem majority nt

[Kaleva]

21. I agree but I was responding to your comment

"We voted in two Democrats but they aren't on the court yet"

One of them is already on the court.

[Biophilic]

5. These post election shenanigans by the Republicans have changed my mind

I used to be unhappy with them. I couldn't understand what they were thinking etc. NOW, post election I'm coming to simply hate them as a group. That is very new for me. I always prided myself on thinking rather than feeling. Now, not so much. Now I find myself feeling way more than thinking. I suppose that isn't good long term, but it is where I'm at at this point.

[Freddie]

8. They really hate this country

To risk civil war by stealing a legitimate fair election. All our lives they tell us “vote, it’s the only real way to make your voice heard” - and now that we did, too bad, it was all a farce? Do they even realize the seriousness of the consequences? America as we know it will be finished.

[Biophilic]

11. That's what I worry about also

Plus, I'm friggin' pissed at how they've changed my internal image of my country. I never thought we were perfect but I always thought we would work to get better. Now I know better. A certain part of the country is willing to fight to get worse. I don't get it.

[blueinredohio]

10. Biden's lawyers need to have the court papers ready to go.

[Buckeyeblue]

13. This is how fascists operate.

The fact that Republicans would allow anyone associated with the party to advocate for not following the will of the voters is an indictment for all of them.

The facts are that there is no voting irregularities. It's all made up. There is nothing to investigate and nothing to audit.

I think it's almost time for Biden to call out the whole fucking party as anti-American fascists.

[Kaleva]

17. I think it wise to read the opinions of various experts on this matter

"If the board deadlocks 2-2 along partisan lines, experts say the Michigan Court of Appeals would likely order canvassers to certify the results."

https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/lee-chatfield-michigan-could-face-constitutional-crisis-over-election