Election

Three Metro Detroiters Charged with Fraud in 2020 Election

October 11, 2021, 1:12 PM by  Allan Lengel

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Three Metro Detroiters face fraud charges related to the 2020 election in Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announce.

"These cases highlight the scrutiny applications and ballots undergo throughout the election process, as well as the thorough investigative process that ensues when instances of attempted fraud are suspected," Nessel said in a statement Monday. "I appreciate our partners at the Department of State and Michigan State Police who brought these cases to us."

Charges are filed against Trenae Myesha Rainey, 28, Carless Clark, 59, and Nancy Juanita Williams, 55. 

Suspected fraud by Rainey and Williams was flagged ahead of the election, triggering investigations. Alleged double-voting by Clark was flagged after Nov. 3 balloting. The three cases are a minuscule number among 5.6 million votes cast for presidential candidates.

► Rainey, an employee of Father Murray Nursing Home in Center Line, is accused of filling out and forging about two dozen absentee ballot applications from the nursing home without residents' knowledge. The applications were given to another employee to drop off at the Centerline clerk's office last October, authorities allege. She faces three counts of election law forgery and three counts of forging signature on absentee ballot applications.

► Clark is accused of double voting in the 2020 general election. Authorities allege that Clark signed and returned her grandson's mail-in ballot despite his decision to vote in person. She faces one count of  impersonating another to vote at an election and election law forgery. 

► Williams is accused of voter fraud in Wayne and Oakland. She faces 14 counts of making a false statement on an absentee ballot application, forging a signature on an application and election law forgery in multiple courts. She is alleged to have submitted 26 absentee ballot applications to nine different clerks for legally incapacitated persons under her care. She then had the ballots sent to her address. She is accused of submitting the voter registration applications for each person without their knowledge, consent or understanding.

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Jocelyn Benson: "Stop spreading lies."

"Our election system is secure, and today's charges demonstrate that in the rare circumstances when fraud occurs we catch it and hold the perpetrators accountable," Secretary of State Benson said in a statement.

"These charges also send a clear message to those who promote deceitful claims about widespread fraud: the current protocols we have in place work to protect and ensure the integrity of our elections. It's time to share that truth and stop spreading lies to the contrary."



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