Judge rules against Michigan sheriff’s suit alleging officials destroyed evidence of election fraud

The latest wrinkle in a post-election narrative involving allegations of voter fraud and irregularities came this week in the form of a lawsuit by a controversial Michigan sheriff.

Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf brought the case forward on Sunday, complaining that Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and other state officials were involved in destroying evidence of voter fraud.

“Any criminal activity and/or civil liability”

Leaf’s specific allegations including an alleged order to destroy electronic poll book software.

For her part, Benson’s office provided a statement defending what it described as an ordinary procedure to protect voter records.

In response, the sheriff asked for an injunction, declaring it “necessary to prevent the loss of election data and evidence needed to determine voter intent, any systematic fraud, and any criminal activity and/or civil liability.”

State GOP lawmakers have reportedly also weighed in with their concerns.

Judge Robert Jonker of the U.S. District Court for the Western District dismissed the request Monday, criticizing what he called “speculative leaps” in Leaf’s case.

“Numerous instances of election fraud”

The judge described “a hazy and nebulous inference” of “numerous instances of election fraud” being destroyed by defendants in the case, concluding that there “is simply nothing of record to infer as much, much less conclude that irreparable injury will occur before the defendants can be heard.”

Leaf had previously courted controversy for likening a foiled plot to kidnap Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to a citizen’s arrest.

Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel reacted to his latest suit with mockery, declaring: “The only thing missing from this post-election circus was a lawsuit from Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf. Until now, of course. Because 2020 is still happening.”

Michigan has been a central component in the efforts of President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign to overturn the stated results of last month’s presidential election.

Another lawsuit recently dismissed by the state Supreme Court alleged in part that Benson disenfranchised voters by mailing out millions of unsolicited mail-in ballot applications.

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