Former Republican Attorney General Candidate and Trump Supporter Charged with Tampering with Voting Machines
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Matthew DePerno, a former Republican attorney general candidate, and another supporter of former President Donald Trump have been criminally charged in Michigan for accessing and tampering with voting machines after the 2020 election, according to court records.
DePerno, who was endorsed by Trump in his unsuccessful run for Michigan attorney general last year, is facing charges of undue possession of a voting machine and conspiracy. Daire Rendon, a former Republican state representative, has been charged with conspiracy to commit undue possession of a voting machine and false pretenses.
Both DePerno and Rendon were arraigned remotely on Tuesday afternoon, according to Richard Lynch, the court administrator for Oakland County’s 6th Circuit.
These charges come as Michigan’s Democratic attorney general and secretary of state, who were reelected, defeated challenges from Republicans who gained prominence in the state party through loyalty to Trump and perpetuating false claims of a stolen election in 2020.
Michigan’s attorney general has also filed felony charges against 16 Republicans who acted as fake electors for Trump in 2020. Additionally, a Michigan town clerk facing charges related to election fraud has vowed to respect a ban on his participation in elections.
A special prosecutor, D.J. Hilson, has been reviewing the investigation and considering charges since September. He convened a grand jury in March to determine whether criminal indictments should be issued. In a statement, Hilson said the charges were authorized by “an independent citizens grand jury,” and his office did not make any recommendations.
These charges against DePerno and Rendon are the latest consequences for individuals who embraced Trump’s false claims of election fraud. The former president himself is currently under investigation for election interference in Georgia and has stated that he is a target of a federal investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
According to documents released by Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office, five vote tabulators were taken from three counties in Michigan to a hotel room where they were broken into and “tests” were performed on the equipment. DePerno was named as a “prime instigator” in the case and has previously denied any wrongdoing, accusing the state attorney general of “weaponizing her office.”
Nine individuals, including DePerno and Rendon, were implicated in the scheme, and the investigation is ongoing. Hilson, the special prosecutor, confirmed that there is more to come unrelated to the individuals currently charged.
Charges in this case were delayed as prosecutors sought clarification from a judge about what constitutes illegal possession of a voting machine. In July, a state judge ruled that it is a felony to take a machine without a court order or permission directly from the Secretary of State’s office, punishable by up to five years in prison.
The involvement of a special prosecutor was necessary to ensure an impartial investigation, as Attorney General Nessel ran against DePerno in 2022. The charges filed against DePerno and Rendon highlight the significance of protecting the integrity of elections and prosecuting those who attempt to tamper with voting machines.