Michigan election officials to probe Trump event at sheriff’s office

The Michigan Bureau of Elections plans to investigate the legality of the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office hosting an event for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump‘s campaign, said Angela Benanderand duties for the Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.

Benander said Thursday the bureau had received two complaints against the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Mike Murphyalleging violations of state campaign finance law had occurred at Trump’s Tuesday speech.

“I won’t be able to provide any additional information until they have completed their investigation and make a determination in this case,” Benander said.

Michigan campaign finance law specifically bans a government body from using “funds, personnel, office space, computer hardware or software, property, stationery, position, vehicles, equipment, supplies or other public resources” to make a campaign contribution or expenditure.

Trump’s campaign event on Tuesday in Michigan took place in a Livingston County Sheriff’s Office garage with sheriff’s vehicles parked behind Trump as he spoke.

However, there are specific exemptions in the law on public resources that say public officials can express political views and public facilities can be used for campaigns if other candidates have an equal opportunity to use them.

A person who breaks the policy is guilty of a misdemeanor bringing a punishment of up to a year behind bars or a fine of up to $1,000, according to the law. A government agency that violates it can be fined the amount of the contribution.

The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office broke the campaign finance law, said Mark Brewera Michigan elections lawyer and former chairman of the state Democratic Party.

“It looks like the Trump campaign and the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department are trying to set the record for the most campaign finance and election law violations at one event,” Brewer tweeted.

But in a statement on Friday, Murphy told The Detroit News that he didn’t believe he violated the law.

“I welcome the investigation,” Murphy said.

More: Donald Trump to campaign in Detroit next week

Whitmer on Harris and media questions

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer she said confidently Vice President Kamala Harris will make more time for media questions and interviews as she gets out on the fall campaign trail following last week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vancewho has taken press questions in his visits to Michigan in recent weeks, has criticized the Harris campaign for failing to do the same.

But Whitmer, who serves as the Harris-Walz campaign’s co-chair, noted that the four weeks since President Joe Biden withdrew from the race and endorsed Harris have been “unprecedented times.”

“One month ago, we thought we were going to have a different candidate at the top of the ticket, and all the work that’s gone into a running mate and putting on this convention I know has been completely consuming,” Whitmer said in an interview Wednesday at the Democratic National Convention.

“I’m confident the vice president will make more time available for the media once we get through this week and the dust settles a little bit.”

Trump, for his part, took one question after his most recent Michigan event Tuesday in Howell. He canceled an interview with The Detroit News that day after the newspaper began asking about crime data that showed crime had decreased in the years since Trump left office.

More: Trump returns to Michigan to talk crime, but data shows rates dropped after he left office

Mike Rogers Touts Tesla

Republican Mike Rogerswho’s running to be Michigan’s next US senator, labeled California-founded Tesla Inc. a “great American story” during an exchange with reporters Wednesday in Mecosta County.

Rogers was visiting Green Township for a rally against plans from Gotion, a company linked to China, that wants to construct an electric vehicle battery parts plant on the outskirts of Big Rapids. Rogers argued against mandates that would force people to buy electric vehicles and said lawmakers should “let the markets work.”

“Look at Tesla,” said Rogers of White Lake Township. “They came into a market all by itself. There’s a great American story.”

The Republican mentioned that Tesla built all-electric cars.

“The Big Three thought they were nuts,” Rogers said. “Remember this? This wasn’t that long ago. They thought they were nuts. They built a great car company. It’s selling. It’s huge.”

Elon Muskthe CEO of Tesla, endorsed Trump for president in July.

More: Does Tesla benefit from EV mogul Musk’s embrace of Trump?

Stewart jokes about Slotkin

Comedian and political commentator Jon Stewart led off his live Thursday night broadcast of “The Daily Show” by joking that a certain mid-Michigan congresswoman and US Senate candidate was the much-hyped, much-speculated-about surprise guest for the Democratic National Convention’s closing night.

Stewart — sarcastically — raised his hands triumphantly, danced and cheered the convention stage appearance of US Rep. Elissa SlotkinD-Holly.

“You thought it was Beyoncé because everyone thought it’d be Beyoncé coming out there,” Stewart said. “But it was Slotkin all along. Everyone knew.”

TMZ incorrectly reported earlier in the night that music superstar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter would perform at the convention.

“I am in the … Slot Hive,” Stewart joked, riffing on a term used to refer to the musical megastar’s fans.

Slotkin posted a clip of Stewart’s comments on the social platform X and welcomed the Comedy Central comedian to the “SlotHive.”

The hotdog emoji in her post was a reference to Slotkin’s family history. Her great-grandfather started the meat company Hygrade Foods that created the iconic Ballpark Franks first sold at Tiger Stadium in Detroit.

Earlier in the week, fellow late night comedian and former “Daily Show” correspondent Stephen Colbert joked about state Sen. Mallory McMorrow‘s DNC appearance while hosting “The Late Show on CBS.”

The senator “came out with a big ole book,” Colbert said. “Either that, or she’s a teeny tiny lady. They should’ve provided a banana for scale.” More on that in a moment.

Tweet of the Week

The Insider report’s “Tweet of the Week,” recognizing a social media post that was worthy of attention or, possibly, just a laugh, from the previous week goes to the tag team of McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, and Lansing City Councilman Peter Spadaforeand Michigan Capitol lobbyist.

McMorrow spoke at the Democratic National Convention on Monday and held up a large hardcover edition of the Heritage Foundation’s 900-plus-page Project 2025 book detailing a conservative blueprint for remaking the federal government should Trump return to the White House. The prop work instantly inspired memes and edits.

Spadafore shared a version of the image with Project 2025 substituted out and the infamously large menu of the former Lansing restaurant Clara’s inserted.

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