Benson Sends Additional Information To Jan. 6 committee

MICHIGAN — Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said she sent a letter to the U.S. House Select Committee and United States Attorney General Merrick Garland containing "additional" information about the 2020 election.

Benson's office said the letter provides "information about coordination between the former president and people in Michigan to overturn the legitimate outcome of the 2020 election."

Michigan Republican Party co-chair Meshawn Maddock said recently that former President Trump's campaign asked state Republicans to submit a document suggesting the state's 16 electoral votes should go Trump, according to audio obtained by CBS News.

"We fought to seat the electors," Maddock said. "The Trump campaign asked us to do that. I'm under a lot of scrutiny for that today."

Despite Joe Biden's victory in Michigan by more than 150,000 votes, 16 state Republicans submitted false certificates stating they were the state’s presidential electors, a claim Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said she has been looking into whether those state Republicans who signed the document committed crimes.

"As more information has surfaced about the attempts to thwart the will of Michigan’s 5.5 million voters, we have been able to connect the dots between activities that occurred here in Michigan and at the national level to overturn what was the most secure election in our state’s history," Benson said. "As the efforts to overturn the election ultimately led to the Jan. 6 attack on the United States Capitol, it is my firm belief that all Americans have a patriotic duty to nation and our democracy to support the Committee in their work."

This is the second time Secretary Benson has communicated directly with the Committee, including an interview with investigators in November 2021.