Judge: Kristina Karamo, others must pay $58k for 'frivolous' elections suit
- Michigan GOP Chair Kristina Karamo, others ordered to pay $58,000 as sanctions for ‘frivolous’ lawsuit
- The 2022 complaint had sought to disqualify mail-in ballots in Detroit but was ‘rife with speculation’
- Ruling covers costs for Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey to defend motion that sought to disqualify all Detroit judges from hearing case
LANSING — Michigan GOP Chair Kristina Karamo, a state party attorney and other plaintiffs must pay a combined $58,459 to cover Detroit's costs for defending against a "frivolous" 2022 election lawsuit, a judge ruled Monday.
The sanctions order from Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Kenny, a Republican appointee, comes roughly seven months after he dismissed the lawsuit from Karamo, who at the time was a candidate for Michigan Secretary of State.
Karamo and attorney Dan Hartman — who she has since hired as legal counsel for the Michigan GOP — had sought a last-minute court order to block all mail-in ballots in the city of Detroit for the November 2022 election.
Related:
- Kristina Karamo: Presidential vote shakeup ‘best solution’ for Michigan GOP
- Gretchen Whitmer forms ‘Fight Like Hell PAC’ to back federal candidates
- In divided Michigan, campaigns begin anew, seven months after last election
The lawsuit was "rife with speculation, an absence of facts and a lack of understanding of Michigan election statutes and Detroit absentee ballot procedures," Kenny wrote in his new ruling, reiterating why he had dismissed the case.
In doing so, Kenny on Monday granted Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey's request for sanctions against Karamo, other plaintiffs and attorneys for a motion that had sought to disqualify all 57 judges in Wayne County's Third Circuit Court from hearing the case.
That motion was frivolous, the judge wrote, citing state law allowing him to award attorney costs and fees to the prevailing party in such instances.
"Nothing was alleged to show a bias toward Defendant Detroit City Clerk by the Third Circuit Court bench," Kenny explained.
The Michigan Republican Party did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Karamo or Hartman.
The lawsuit pre-dated their time atop the Michigan GOP.
But Karamo, an election denier who refused to concede her 615,349-vote loss to Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, won election to the top state party post in February by vowing to continue fighting for "election integrity."
As a candidate for Michigan GOP chair, she vowed to "take legal action against individuals and agencies who are violating election law" and alleged that unproven “corruption” is a "state and national security threat."
See what new members are saying about why they donated to Bridge Michigan:
- “In order for this information to be accurate and unbiased it must be underwritten by its readers, not by special interests.” - Larry S.
- “Not many other media sources report on the topics Bridge does.” - Susan B.
- “Your journalism is outstanding and rare these days.” - Mark S.
If you want to ensure the future of nonpartisan, nonprofit Michigan journalism, please become a member today. You, too, will be asked why you donated and maybe we'll feature your quote next time!