Michigan’s Democratic attorney general threatens to sue woman over ‘misleading’ social media posts

A Michigan resident was stunned to find a cease and desist letter from Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel earlier this week threatening legal action after the woman posted messages on social media alerting voters to a polling place change in Ross Township and alleging the township failed to follow the law in notifying residents.

Kerry Lynn Elieff, who lives in Ross Township, near Kalamazoo, told the Daily Wire that the cease-and-desist order did not specify which publication was violating the law, but required her to remove any “misleading or false election information.” Elieff received the letter Tuesday, the same day the state’s primary election was held.

Elieff believes his township failed to comply with the law, which requires voters to be notified of a change of polling place within 60 days, The Midwesterner reportedShe said she posted several messages and videos on social media to alert other voters in her community of the change.

“I posted this and I notified residents of this, and then I sent a FOIA request. And in that FOIA request, they told me they would give me the information by August 8, two days after the election,” Elieff told the Daily Wire. “So I’m making videos and I’m making posts with timelines. And then I got this letter from Dana Nessel, telling me to ‘cease and desist.’”

“I’m shocked,” she added. “They’re threatening me with criminal prosecution for sharing information with township residents. And two things I noticed is they didn’t tell me anything specific that constituted misinformation, and secondly, they never said, ‘If you find a mistake, please contact us.’ There was no investigation. It was a real beating.”

Elieff told the Daily Wire that she is considering federal legal action and seeking legal representation following the cease and desist order.

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The letter from Nessel’s office, signed by Criminal Trial Division Chief Robbin N. Liddell, stated: “This cease and desist letter is to notify you that you are in violation of Michigan election law. It has come to the attention of our office that you have been disseminating misleading or false election information regarding Ross Township polling places via online sites. Specifically, MCL 168.932(a) prohibits and criminalizes this conduct.”

“Ross Township polling locations have been legally approved and selected by the Town Council and Clerk. Any false or misleading information you have posted must be removed from all platforms,” the letter continues. “Therefore, you are hereby ordered to CEASE and DESIST from using online platforms to continue to disseminate false or misleading information regarding Ross Township polling locations. Failure to comply with this notice may result in criminal prosecution.”

IT BEGINS: Dana Nessel Sends Threatening “Cease and Desist” Letter Over Election “Misinformation” https://t.co/fe0zWrm15Q via @Th_Midwesterner

— The Midwesterner (@Th_Midwesterner) August 6, 2024

The section of the law cited by the attorney general’s office states: “No person shall attempt, by bribes, threats or other corrupt means or devices, directly or indirectly, to influence any voter to cast his vote, or to dissuade or disrupt the casting of his vote in any election held in this state.”

The Michigan woman said she complied with the letter, deleting some posts while revising others, but she added that it was unclear how to proceed since the letter from the attorney general’s office did not mention any specific social media posts.

“I don’t want to go to jail for this. What do they consider ‘misinformation’?” she asked. “If I’m wrong, I’m willing to go back, change my mind and own it.”

Elieff received the letter shortly after the office of Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, released a document urging voters to report “misleading or inaccurate information about voting or elections in Michigan.” The Federalist Earlier this week, she thought someone in her district who disagreed with her politically had reported her.

Earlier this year, the Republican National Committee sued Benson, alleging that she secretly instructed local election officials ahead of the February 2024 presidential primary to presume that an absentee voter’s signature was legitimate.

Michigan is a key state in the 2024 presidential election and will also host a key Senate election to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow.