Michigan lawmakers receiving calls to pick electors for Trump

Giuliani to testify in Lansing tomorrow on alleged voter fraud in state

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TUESDAY, Dec. 1 (MIRS) — The Trump campaign is putting a final push on Michigan's Republican legislators to find a way to appoint Michigan's 16 Electoral College members to vote for President Donald Trump for president on the argument that there was too much fraud and shenanigans  in Wayne County to let the vote there stand.

Outside of the Senate Oversight Committee hearing on election activity at the TCF Center in Detroit, which is approaching seven hours of testimony, legislators are receiving phone calls like this one from people claiming to be with Trump campaign headquarters in Washington.

"I wanted to reach out to you personally on behalf of the president as you got an opportunity to be a crucial part of his reelection," said someone who identified herself as Angela McCallom to a state representative in Michigan. "I'm sure you know right now that the Senate Oversight committee is hearing from witnesses who are sharing their testimonies regarding voter fraud across the state.

"We wanted to make sure you knew how you could be helpful in ensuring that every American is represented and can be rest assured that their vote will be fairly and correctly counted in this election. The United States Constitution provides that the state legislators retain sole authority to designate presidential electors."

She said Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani will be in front of the House Oversight Committee at 6 p.m. today (Dec. 2) to present experts and witnesses who observed fraud in Michigan's election.

"The vote totals are fatally flawed and do not accurately represent the will of the voters as well as your constituents," McCallom said. "You have the power to reclaim your authority and send a slate of electors that will support President Trump and Vice President (Mike) Pence."

She said this is part of an effort in Georgia, Arizona and Pennsylvania to get state legislators to stand with their president and stop voter fraud and "to appoint electors for Trump."

MIRS called McCallom to ask additional questions. She said, "I'm sorry, I'm not in a position to answer any questions right now" before hanging up.

The Nov. 3 vote totals from Michigan showed Democrat Joe BIDEN defeating Trump by 154,188.

According to attorney Peter RUDDELL of Honigman law firm, the U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 2, dictates that each state shall appoint its electors in a manner directed by its legislature, the phrase "no doubt" the Trump campaign is hinging its argument on.

However, the Michigan Legislature has already dictated how those electors are to be named. A law was passed that says each political party must select a slate of electors at their fall convention and pass those names to the secretary of state within a day after that selection.

Whichever party's candidate for president wins Michigan's popular vote, that party's electors are appointed to cast votes for president on behalf of the state of Michigan.

"There's no provision in Michigan law for the Michigan legislature to act" as it relates to selecting electors, Ruddell said. It's possible, theoretically, for the Legislature to try to change the rules of the game, but they would need to pass a bill … which undoubtedly Gov. Gretchen WHITMER would veto.

The Republicans in the legislature would not have the votes to override that veto. Electors are set to cast their votes Dec. 14.

Today's call came as the Senate Oversight Committee took roughly seven hours of testimony from individuals claiming fraud in Michigan's election system and urging lawmakers to pick electors who will cast votes for Trump.

(Kyle Melinn of the Capitol news service MIRS is at melinnky@gmail.com.)

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