Michigan AG sends cease and desist letter to resident over posting 'election misinformation' online

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's office sent a cease and desist letter to a resident over allegedly posting "election misinformation" online.

Robbin N. Liddell, chief of Nessel's Criminal Trials Division, sent the letter to a Ross Township resident on July 24, informing the recipient that they were "in violation of Michigan election law," The Midwesterner reported Tuesday.

Liddell wrote that the individual had "spread misleading or false election information regarding polling locations in Ross Township through on-line sites" and violated a state law that "prohibits and criminalizes this conduct."

The state law cited in the letter was MCL 168.932(a), which reads, "A person shall not attempt, by means of bribery, menace, or other corrupt means or device, either directly or indirectly, to influence an elector in giving his or her vote, or to deter the elector from, or interrupt the elector in giving his or her vote at any election held in this state."

The resident who received the letter told The Midwesterner that the online information cited in the letter was a group of social media posts claiming the township didn't inform residents within the 60-day window that voting locations had been changed.

Liddell's letter informed the recipient that the township's voting locations were "legally approved and selected by the township board and clerk." She also told the resident to remove "false or misleading information" on online platforms.

"Failure to comply with this notice may result in criminal prosecution," Liddell added.