Michigan Attorney General Seeks to Stop Election Recount

Shelia Banks Parks, of Massachusetts and a Jill Stein designated observer, video tapes presidential ballots being recounted in Dane County on December 1, 2016 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Andy Manis/Getty Images)

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette filed an emergency motion Tuesday for a hearing before the Michigan Supreme Court to stop Green Party nominee Jill Stein’s statewide hand recount, per Deputy AG Matthew Schneider.

This morning, Chad Livengood, a reporter for The Detroit News, tweeted a photo of an expedited relief request addressed to the Michigan Supreme Court.

Following the announcement, Schuette tweeted his explanation for filing the suit, writing:

Today I am filing suit to stop @DrJillStein’s frivolous, expensive recount request. Mich voters rejected @DrJillStein’s candidacy and her refusal to accept verified results poses an expensive &a risky threat to MI taxpayers. It is inexcusable for Stein to put MI votes at risk of paying millions and potentially losing their voice in the Elec College. I have filed an emergency motion with the Mich Supreme Court to bypass the Court of Appeals to ensure a timely process.

The announcement came as the Board of State Canvassers convened to commence the recount. However, following the arrival of Deputy AG Matthew Schneider to hand out the Schuette’s motion, the board moved to recess for one hour.

According to Detroit News, “Michigan faces a Dec. 13 deadline to finalize its election results ahead of a Dec. 19 vote of the Electoral College to formalize President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the Nov. 8 election.”

According to Time.com, Stein has raised more than $6.3 million, out of a goal of $7 million, to fund recounts in three swing states that gave the election to Donald Trump: Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.

To sway the election, Hillary Clinton would need all three states to fall to win the Electoral College, which meets December 19.

Trump leads Clinton in Michigan by only 10,704 votes.

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