AG Jocelyn Benson: A Pattern of Legal Violations and Accountability Gaps
An Investigation into Michigan's Top Election Official
The Official Who Breaks the Laws She's Sworn to Uphold
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has positioned herself as the guardian of election integrity and campaign finance law in the Great Lakes State. But a growing body of evidence suggests that when it comes to following those very same laws, Benson operates by a different set of rules—one where violations carry no consequences and accountability is nowhere to be found.
Confirmed Campaign Finance Violations: Above the Law?
In May 2025, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel—a fellow Democrat—issued a formal determination that Benson violated state campaign finance law when she announced her 2026 gubernatorial campaign from inside a state government building. The violation occurred on January 22, 2025, when Benson held her campaign press conference in the lobby of the Richard H. Austin Building, which houses her official state office.
The violation was clear-cut: Michigan Campaign Finance Act Section 57 explicitly prohibits public officials from using "funds, personnel, office space... or other public resources" for campaign purposes. When asked by reporters why she was holding the event inside when other candidates hadn't been permitted to do so, Benson claimed it was due to cold weather—as if breaking the law becomes acceptable when it's inconvenient to follow it.
But here's where it gets really troubling: Despite finding Benson guilty of violating the law—a misdemeanor crime punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine—the Attorney General's office claimed they had no authority to impose any penalties. Why? Because of what they called a "legislative oversight" that conveniently protects the very person responsible for enforcing campaign finance laws.
As Joshua Booth, chief of the AG's opinions division, acknowledged: "It could be viewed as odd and unfair that the Secretary of State... [is] subject to the requirements of the [campaign finance law], but not any of the penalties for violating them."
Translation: Jocelyn Benson is literally above the law she's supposed to enforce.
Pattern of Campaign Finance Irregularities
This isn't Benson's first brush with campaign finance violations. In February 2022, Michigan Rising Action filed a complaint alleging that Benson accepted donations totaling $81,500 from the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights—$10,000 over the legal limit of $71,500.
The complaint noted the irony: "As the elected Secretary of State, Ms. Benson should be fully aware of contribution limits. Secretary Benson, Michigan's chief elections official and an Ivy League educated attorney, has either intentionally broken Michigan's campaign finance laws, or does not understand the fundamentals of campaign finance contribution limits."
Election Law Controversies and Resistance to Compliance
Benson's tenure has been marked by numerous allegations of failing to comply with existing election laws and resistance to transparency:
Republican lawmakers have documented alleged violations including:
- Removal of poll challengers on Election Day
- Removal of poll inspectors on Election Day
- Failure to match ballot numbers with absentee ballot registration
- Resistance to providing requested election security information to legislative oversight committees
State Representative Matt Maddock, who received Trump's endorsement, has alleged that Benson broke "20 election laws" during the 2020 election cycle, though many of these accusations center on actions by local clerks under her oversight.
The broader pattern: When faced with requests for election security information or compliance with oversight requirements, Benson's office consistently argues that transparency would "compromise the security of our election machines, ballots and officials"—effectively using security as a shield against accountability.
Accountability Crisis: Who Watches the Watchers?
Perhaps most concerning is the systemic failure to hold Benson accountable for her actions. The current legal framework creates a situation where Michigan's top election official can violate the very laws she's responsible for enforcing—and face zero consequences.
Republican legislators are now pushing legislation to close this accountability gap, with State Rep. Angela Rigas noting: "This is not party specific. Yes, this was inspired by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson — but I would sit here today if we had a Republican secretary of state."
What This Means for Michigan Families
For hardworking Michigan families who play by the rules, pay their taxes, and expect their elected officials to follow the law, Benson's pattern of violations represents a fundamental breach of trust. When the person responsible for ensuring fair elections and honest campaigns repeatedly breaks those very rules—and faces no consequences—it undermines the entire system.
As Eric Ventimiglia of Michigan Rising Action put it: "As the state's top campaign finance official, Benson's inability to follow the law casts severe doubts on her ability to do her job and rule on other campaign finance issues."
The Bottom Line
Jocelyn Benson has created a two-tiered justice system in Michigan: one set of rules for ordinary citizens and candidates, and another—more lenient—set for herself. Her confirmed violations of campaign finance law, combined with her resistance to transparency and accountability, raise serious questions about her fitness to serve as Michigan's chief election official.
Michigan families deserve better than an Attorney General who considers herself above the very laws she's sworn to uphold. The question now is whether Michigan's legislature will act to close the accountability loopholes that allow this double standard to continue.
The facts presented here are based on official determinations by the Michigan Attorney General's office, documented legal filings, and public records. All citizens, regardless of party affiliation, should demand equal justice under law.
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