(The Center Square) – Republicans met with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to mediate over a records request subpoena and a subsequent lawsuit.
The meeting did not end in a compromise though.
“I’m disappointed the court-ordered mediation did not yield a positive result last week,” said House Speaker Pro Tem Rachelle Smit, R-Martin. “Secretary Benson continues to withhold the training materials she hands down to clerks.”
This follows a long saga between Benson and Michigan House Republicans after Benson failed to comply with an April subpoena to hand over election training materials.
Following that refusal, Republicans filed a lawsuit against Benson in June requesting a judgement forcing her to comply with the subpoena.
Benson and Rep. Matt Hall, R-Richland Township and speaker of the House, met in court on Friday. Ordered by the Michigan Court of Claims, which resolves all disputes where the state or its agencies are the defendant, the session was designed to help both parties find a mutually acceptable solution.
While Benson has not yet released a statement on the meeting, Hall expressed frustration with its handling.
“Instead of having an honest conversation, Benson brought in her public relations team to the meeting with the mediator and made this a show,” Hall said. “She’s been using this issue from the beginning to help prop up her political ambitions instead of just doing the right thing. Every time she sees me, she thinks about cameras and news clips. Every time I see her, I think about years of scandals and illegal directives that were overturned by the courts.”
Benson is currently running as a 2026 Democrat candidate for governor.
This is just the latest in a dramatic face off between Benson, a Democrat, and Michigan House Republicans over election materials.
In May, the Republican-controlled House voted on a party-line vote to hold Benson in civil contempt for her refusal to hand over subpoenaed election training materials.
In June, State Rep. James DeSana, R-Carleton filed articles of impeachment against Benson, alleging that she has engaged in “corrupt conduct, constitutional violations, and a repeated abuse of power.”
Benson, and Democrats, have had strong words for Republicans throughout this back and forth. Following those articles of impeachment, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Curtis Hertel called the impeachment an “abuse of power.”
Benson has released thousands of documents so far. She argues that fully complying with the House’s request and releasing all the documents could put the integrity of Michigan’s elections at risk. Benson called June’s articles of impeachment, and all the Republicans’ actions, part of a “clown show.”
“It is not how we solve problems. It is not how we make government work for everyone,” she said. “Every taxpayer dollar wasted on these shenanigans is a waste of time and money.”
Hall said following the mediation that it’s time for Benson to comply.
“This is a simple case with a very clear resolution. The legislature is trying to do its basic oversight function and review training materials that were already made available to thousands of people. No one understands why Jocelyn Benson is trying so hard to hide this,” he said. “This office needs oversight, and we need to be able to do our job. Jocelyn Benson should worry less about her press strategy and more about complying with the law.”
