The town clerk of Shelby Township, Michigan, faces severe consequences following charges filed earlier this week by the state attorney general. Republican Stan Grot, who has held the position since 2012, is accused of impersonating an elector during the 2020 election on behalf of former President Donald Trump. As a result of the charges, Grot will be prohibited from overseeing future elections. The Michigan Bureau of Elections has officially notified him of this decision.
Grot is one of sixteen Republicans charged by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel for signing certificates that falsely declared Trump as the winner of the state, rather than Joe Biden. The charges, including forgery and conspiracy to commit election forgery, carry a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison. The seriousness of these charges demonstrates the gravity of the situation.
In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Grot refrained from discussing the charges but confirmed his intention to comply with the letter’s orders. Although he will be unable to fulfill his duties regarding election administration, Grot will continue to serve as township clerk, carrying out other responsibilities such as preparing agendas and recording meetings. Shelby Township, a Detroit suburb with a population of nearly 80,000, will be impacted by this decision.
While Grot is considered innocent until proven guilty, the secretary of state’s office emphasized that his alleged involvement in the fake elector scheme undermines public confidence in the integrity of elections. This case is not an isolated incident; various local clerks who embraced Trump’s false claims of election fraud have faced legal consequences. For instance, Tina Peters, a former clerk in Colorado, is awaiting trial for an alleged attempt to breach voting system technology following the 2020 election.
Stephanie Scott, another small-town clerk in Michigan, faced similar repercussions after mishandling voting equipment and casting doubt on Biden’s election victory. She lost her election duties in 2021 and was subsequently voted out of office. These situations highlight the importance of upholding the democratic process and the severe penalties associated with tampering or undermining election results.
Grot and the other individuals involved in the fake elector scheme allegedly gathered at the Michigan Republican Party headquarters on December 14, 2020. They signed certificates claiming to be qualified electors for Trump and submitted these false documents to Congress and the National Archives. Kathy Berden, the head of the Republican National Committee’s chapter in Michigan, Meshawn Maddock, the former co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party, and Kent Vanderwood, the mayor of a west Michigan city, are among the other individuals facing charges. The arraignment for all sixteen defendants is scheduled to take place on August 10 in Ingham County district court.
Prior to serving as town clerk, Grot held various positions, including county commissioner, county deputy treasurer, and assistant secretary of state. He briefly sought the Republican nomination for secretary of state in 2018 but dropped out due to family obligations and the overall political atmosphere at the time.
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