Motion hearing scheduled for Hillsdale County election integrity case

Corey Murray, Hillsdale Daily News
·3 min read

ADAMS TWP. — Stephanie Scott, the former Adams Township clerk, and her now former attorney, Stefanie Junttila (also known as Stefanie Lambert) are tentatively scheduled for a motion hearing June 4 in a case brought forth by Michigan’s attorney general for alleged election law violations surrounding the 2020 general election.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced charges on May 8 against Scott and Junttila for “permitting an unauthorized computer examiner access to voter data, including non-public voter information, concerning the 2020 presidential election.

Scott, a supporter of former President Donald Trump and a far-right Republican who is campaigning to be Hillsdale County’s next clerk, stands charged with using a computer to commit a crime, unauthorized access to computers, conspiracy to commit the offense of unauthorized access to computers, misconduct in office and concealing or withholding a voting machine as well as disobeying a lawful instruction or order of the secretary of state as chief election officer.

Former Adams Township Supervisor Mark Nichols and former Township Clerk Stephanie Scott stand across the parking lot from the Adams Township Hall during a recall election in May 2023 which ousted them from office.
Former Adams Township Supervisor Mark Nichols and former Township Clerk Stephanie Scott stand across the parking lot from the Adams Township Hall during a recall election in May 2023 which ousted them from office.

Junttila faces similar offenses.

The two are also tentatively scheduled for a preliminary examination hearing at 9:30 a.m. June 12 in 2B District Court where witnesses will be called to testify in order to establish probable cause that crimes were committed and probable cause that Scott and Junttila are responsible for the crimes for which they have been charged.

If both elements are established, their cases will then be bound over to 1st Judicial Circuit Court for further hearings.

Nessel’s office stated in a news release May 8 that Scott intentionally disregarded numerous instructions from the director of elections acting on behalf of the secretary of state’s office to present the Adams Township voting tabulator to an authorized vendor for maintenance in 2021.

Michigan State Police Troopers exit the Adams Township Hall with a tablet device seized during the execution of a search warrant on Oct. 29, 2021.
Michigan State Police Troopers exit the Adams Township Hall with a tablet device seized during the execution of a search warrant on Oct. 29, 2021.

Withholding the tabulator led to a Michigan State Police search warrant of the Adams Township Hall on Oct. 29, 2021, where a tablet-type device that had been removed from the election tabulator was recovered from a locked drawer in the clerk’s office.

The warrant execution came days after Scott was stripped of her duties in overseeing elections in Adams Township by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson earlier in the month and the seizure of other election-related equipment earlier that week by the Hillsdale County Clerk’s Office.

More: Ousted Adams Township clerk facing election integrity criminal charges

More: Adams Township supervisor, clerk ousted in recall election

More: Search warrant executed at township hall, election equipment confiscated

The turmoil surrounding Scott’s actions combined with her being stripped of her duties eventually led to her being successfully recalled from office during a special election in May 2023 with Suzy Roberts being elected to replace her in a landslide victory.

Former Adams Township Supervisor Mark Nichols, an America First Republican and supporter of Scott’s throughout the contentious election integrity investigation, was also recalled from office.

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In addition to the allegations that Scott did not allow an authorized vendor to complete preventive maintenance on Adams Township’s tabulator, Benson in 2021 stated Scott was unwilling to complete required certifications of public accuracy testing of voting machines.

The Hillsdale County Clerk’s Office seized other election materials including ballots from the 2020 general election from the township hall out of security concerns.

Scott is running against Chief Deputy Clerk Abe Dane, who has been endorsed by outgoing Hillsdale County Clerk Marney Kast, for Hillsdale County’s top election office.

— Contact Reporter Corey Murray at cmurray@hillsdale.net or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @cmurrayHDN.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Motion hearing scheduled for Adams Township election integrity case