RNC Takes Legal Action Against Detroit: Missing Drop Box Footage Controversy

Building with "RNC 2024" sign, red construction cranes.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) has taken legal action against the City of Detroit, bringing election security issues to the forefront, with the controversy surrounding the alleged deletion of ballot drop box surveillance footage.

At a Glance

  • The RNC filed a lawsuit against Detroit’s Department of Elections.
  • Detroit is accused of illegally deleting ballot drop box footage.
  • The RNC argues this inflicts “irreparable injury” on election integrity.
  • Detroit calls the lawsuit an attempt to undermine election confidence.

The RNC’s Legal Action

The Republican National Committee (RNC) has filed a lawsuit against the City of Detroit Department of Elections. The lawsuit stems from allegations that Detroit deleted surveillance footage from ballot drop boxes, violating the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The RNC contends that such actions compromise electoral integrity and transparency, causing “irreparable injury” to the election process.

Jonathan Koch and the RNC claim they requested the footage concerning an “Absent Voter Ballot Drop Box” located at Wayne County Community College. Their initial FOIA request was made in August for footage from August 7 and 8, following a highlighted election security concern during the primaries. Detroit acknowledged the FOIA request and sought an extension for their response.

Detroit’s Counterarguments

Detroit later informed Koch that the video footage had been automatically deleted after thirty days, resulting from their delayed response to the FOIA request. The city labeled the RNC’s lawsuit as frivolous, suggesting it aims to undermine public confidence in elections. Notably, Detroit explained that the handling of the footage aligned with their standard procedure due to their standard overwrite policy.

The lawsuit filed seeks to hold Detroit accountable for the missing footage, advocating for compliance with FOIA and preventing a recurrence in future electoral processes. In light of the upcoming elections, this action underscores the overarching question of how urban centers balance election security with maintaining accessibility and transparency.

Implications for Future Elections

With the 2024 elections approaching, this lawsuit from the RNC reflects ongoing concerns from conservative circles about safeguarding election integrity. RNC Chairman Michael Whatley criticized the deletion, viewing it as an attack on transparency and voter confidence. These accusations are not new, as the RNC had previously filed a lawsuit against Detroit for not hiring enough Republican poll workers.

This legal action seeks to enforce adherence to FOIA in protecting election-related footage. More broadly, it highlights the difficult balance between transparency, security, and accessibility in the election systems of large urban centers, a challenge America continues to face.

Sources

1. RNC sues Detroit over deleted ballot dropbox surveillance footage after FOIA request

2. RNC accuses Detroit of deleting drop box surveillance footage, lawsuit says

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