RNC Sues Detroit over Deleted Ballot Box Surveillance Footage
The Republican National Committee (RNC) has filed a lawsuit against the Detroit Department of Elections over the removal of surveillance video from absentee ballot drop boxes during the August primaries,
The suit coincides with a pending Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for that footage.
RNC Chairman Michael Whatley slammed the deletion, calling it “an assault on transparency” that is eroding trust in the electoral process.
According to Michigan regulations, surveillance videos from ballot drop boxes must be preserved for at least 30 days after creation.
Furthermore, ballot drop box logs and security records must be maintained for two years after elections.
In its FOIA request on August 21, the RNC now seeks ideo evidence from August 7 and 8 at a drop box located at Wayne Community College, and documents detailing the drop box’s installation and security attributes.
Detroit officials had requested have now requested a 10-day extension to respond to the RNC’s request, confirming they would provide a reply by September 12.
However, city representatives informed the RNC that the requested footage had been deleted on September 16 and was no longer accessible after the 30-day retention period had elapsed.
The RNC’s lawsuit argues that the Detroit Department of Elections breached FOIA regulations after deleting the the surveillance footage
According to the lawsuit, the deletion is arbitrary and capricious because the city delayed respcity’s to the request by over 26 days.
The complaint also seeks financial damages against the city, notably because the footage cannot be recovered.
Michael Whatley emphasized the importance of transparency in elections, stating, “This disregard for “stablished protocols diminishes confidence in our electoral systems.”
The law requires “rganizations to keep certain records intact until they are approved for release or the set retention period has expired,
Earlier this year, the RNC filed a separate lawsuit against Detroit city officials over inadequate staffing of Republican poll workers, further demonstrating their commitment to scrutinizing the electoral process
The lawsuit seeks compensation for the deleted footage and exclusive rights to the future governance of such information to prevent similar breaches.
READ: Absentee Ballots Suddenly Begin Disappearing in Michigan