LANSING — The office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has concluded that Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson violated the Michigan Campaign Finance Act in announcing her run for governor.
On January 22nd of this year, Secretary Benson held a press conference in the lobby of the Richard H. Austin Building to announce her gubernatorial candidacy.
Nessel’s office had received complaints that Benson’s use of a public space for campaign purposes violated the MCFA.
Complaints regarding campaign financing, are usually referred to the Secretary of State, but Section 15, paragraph 9 of the MCFA requires the Attorney General to investigate if the Secretary of State is the subject of complaints.
On Monday, Nessel’s office sent a letter to Benson detailing their conclusion that she did indeed violate the MCFA.
Under the statute, the Department of the Attorney General has no authority to impose any civil or criminal penalties for a violation by the Secretary of State.
However, the letter, signed by Joshua Booth of the Department’s Opinions Division, suggested that the state Legislature could determine whether to amend the Act’s enforcement authority.