(The Center Square) – Michigan House Republicans filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on Wednesday for her failure to comply with a subpoena.
“After going years without legislative oversight, Benson has clearly grown comfortable operating independent of the other, co-equal branches of government,” said State Rep. Jay DeBoyer, R-Clay Township, who filed the subpoena. “For months, we have tried to get her cooperation through requests, then accommodating offers, and then legal demands. Her continued defiance now brings us to the courtroom, where we will continue to diligently work to deliver government transparency for the people of Michigan.”
This action follows the Michigan House voting along party lines in May to hold Benson in civil contempt for her refusal to hand over subpoenaed election training materials.
The lawsuit was filed in the Michigan Court of Claims, which resolves all disputes where the state or its agencies are the defendant. It requests a declaratory judgment from the court that the Michigan House has issued a valid subpoena that Benson must comply with.
This is just the latest in a dramatic face off between Benson, a Democrat, and Michigan House Republicans over election materials.
“After almost six months of attempting to obtain defendants’ voluntary cooperation with the informal informational request, the House, through its House Oversight Committee, was constrained on April 22, 2025, to issue subpoenas to the Secretary and Department compelling production of the previously requested election training materials,” the lawsuit alleges.
It adds that Benson has submitted only 68 of the 517 eligible documents.
Earlier this week, 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. Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Curtis Hertel called the impeachment an “abuse of power.”
“Secretary Benson has faithfully served Michiganders and our democracy as Secretary of State,” Hertel said in a statement. “Meanwhile, state Rep. DeSana and the House Republicans are playing political games to distract from the fact that they don’t have any real solutions or ability to lead. This is the second elected official state Rep. DeSana has filed to impeach for doing their job and we are confident it will be equally unsuccessful.”
