A Wayne County judge has mandated Michigan Republican Party Chairwoman Kristina Karamo and fellow plaintiffs to cover over $58,000 in legal expenses. These fees stem from a lawsuit they initiated against the Detroit clerk's office, contesting absentee voting procedures in the city. Judge Timothy Kenny criticized the October 26 lawsuit as being "filled with speculation, lacking factual basis, and demonstrating a misunderstanding of Michigan election laws and Detroit's absentee ballot processes."

At the time of the lawsuit, Karamo was the Republican candidate for Secretary of State. She ultimately lost the election to Democrat Jocelyn Benson. Following her defeat, Karamo was elected as the state GOP chairperson. Judge Kenny's order highlighted the plaintiffs' reliance on unsubstantiated claims of "corruption in Detroit" as justification for their legal challenge. He subsequently ordered them to reimburse the Detroit clerk's office for the incurred legal costs.

The lawsuit aimed to compel Detroit residents to vote in person or obtain absentee ballots directly from the city clerk's office. Filed just two weeks before the election, the suit raised various allegations concerning signature verification on absentee ballots, drop-box monitoring practices, and the alleged use of "uncertified high-speed tabulators" for vote counting. However, Judge Kenny dismissed the case on the eve of the election, stating that the plaintiffs had failed to present any evidence of election law violations during the eight-hour evidentiary hearing.

Former President Donald Trump, left, listens as Michigan Republican Secretary of State candidate Kristina Karamo speaks during a rally in Warren, Michigan, on Oct. 1, 2022. A judge ordered Karamo and others to pay more than $58,000 in legal fees incurred by the Detroit clerk’s office to fight a lawsuit challenging absentee voting in the city. (Todd McInturf/Detroit News via AP, File)