First on FOX: Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers fired back at Democrats after accusing him and other Republicans of committing fraud to gain ballot access.
In a letter to the Michigan Board of State Canvassers, attorneys for Rogers blasted the state Democratic Party and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) for what they said were “frivolous and unsubstantiated claims.”
Earlier this month, Democratic Party entities asked the board to investigate potential fraud in the nominating petitions of several major Republican Senate candidates, including Rogers, who once represented Michigan in the U.S. House. The group called for “an immediate investigation into the petition sheets submitted by candidates Rogers, (Justin) Amash, (Sandy) Pensler, and (Peter) Meijer, and the cancellation of all petition signatures on the petition sheets signed by circulators found to have participated fraud.”
SPEAKER JOHNSON PLAN TO INVITE NETANYAHU ISRAEL TO CONGRESS ASAP.
Republican Senate primary candidate Mike Rogers accused Democrats of “electioneering.” (Getty Images)
In calling for the investigation, Michigan Democratic Party Chairwoman Lavora Barnes said in a statement at the time, “These new signs of apparent fraud are deeply concerning and demand immediate action.”
“Since Michigan voters have now submitted declarations stating that they did not sign the petition, the Bureau of Elections and the Board of Canvassers must uphold their responsibility to protect the integrity of Michigan’s elections and conduct a full and thorough investigation. The State Board of Canvassers must reliably determine that the Republican Senate candidate has submitted 15,000 valid signatures before taking the vote to certify it to appear on the ballot,” he said.
ANTISEMITISM AT YALE, UNIV. OF MICHIGAN TO FACE CONGRESSIONAL SCRUTINY
Democratic groups are calling for an investigation into Republican Senate nomination petitions. (Leigh Vogel/WireImage)
A spokesperson for Rogers claimed in a statement to Fox News Digital that the party entity was involved in “election interference.”
Rogers’ attorney, Eric E. Doster, urged the board not to accept the invitation to reject the petition to “engage in voter disenfranchisement,” he wrote in the letter.
GOP SEN TAKES CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION TO JUDGE TRUMP FOR GAG ORDER
Rogers is considered a key leader in Michigan’s crowded Republican Senate. (Sam Wolfe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The Michigan Board of State Canvassers did not comment to Fox News Digital in time for publication.
“This blatant attempt at election meddling is just the latest example of Democrats’ disdain for voters and democracy in Michigan,” said Rogers spokesman Chris Gustafson.
The Republican candidate has been endorsed by former President Trump in his primary race, and his campaign has defended him in public settings.
According to a statement from the spokeswoman of the Trump campaign of Michigan Victoria LaCivita, “Michigan Democrats have a long track record of electoral fraud and have created a system open to fraud.”
BIDEN ADMIN WAS ASKED TO PUSH ABORTION PILLS WITHOUT PROPER ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY
Mike Rogers was endorsed by former President Trump in the primary race. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
“This latest scheme is based on the fear of losing to President Trump and the Michigan GOP ticket in November. Using radical liberal lawyer Marc Elias emphasizes the truth: this is just a sad PR stunt to distract Michigan voters from the real issues this November. Michiganders care about being able to pay. petrol and groceries and feel safe in their homes and will see this smoke screen,” he added.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The legal voting dispute comes as Michigan is once again poised to be a big battleground state in the upcoming November election. In an April Fox News poll, Trump was up three points over President Biden in the state, or 49% to 46% among registered voters.
Furthermore, with the exit of the incumbent Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., the race for Michigan’s next senator is considered competitive, rated as “Lean Democratic” by the nonpartisan political handicapper in the Cook Political Report. Republican and Democratic Senate primaries will be held on August 6.
