WATCH: Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson Calls Trump Pardons a “Green Light” to “Undermine our Elections”
Last night, Michigan Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson warned that President Trump’s pardons of 2020 election deniers send a dangerous “green light” to those who would use lies and conspiracy theories to undermine future elections. She noted that it’s already emboldening leading candidates running for Governor and Senate to spread lies about their own elections that they lost.
Benson emphasized that even though she faced threats and intimidation in 2020 and the elections after—including armed protesters outside her home—it only made her “bolder and more determined to ensure free and fair elections continue.” As governor, she’ll continue fighting to protect the rights, freedoms, and votes of Michiganders no matter who they vote for.
In case you missed it…
COATES: Why do you think President Trump issued these pardons? What’s behind it?
BENSON: Clearly it sends a signal. It gives a green light to those who might in the future seek to use lies and conspiracy theories to disrupt, attack, or undermine free and fair elections. And we’re already seeing that light come to fruition. I mean, those same falsehoods are now being amplified by current candidates for governor, for senate in the state of Michigan…Reconciliation is about telling the truth. And the truth is that every election, including that in 2020, has been free and fair and an accurate reflection of the will of the people. So let’s tell that truth instead of giving a green light to conspiracy theories that could be used to continue to undermine the fair and free elections of the future.
COATES: I’m curious because, as you know, these pardons only apply to federal cases, not state ones. There are still cases pending in Wisconsin, Arizona, and Nevada. Your state is appealing a decision to even toss charges in Michigan. So I’m wondering if these pardons at the federal level might invite pressure to drop cases at the state level?
BENSON: While these pardons do send a signal that it’s suddenly okay [to sow doubts about our elections] what’s very clear is that states and state officials still have unique and independent authority to pursue charges against the illegal acts of election interference and other illegal attempts to overturn free and fair election results. There’s never been a more important time for governors, for secretaries of state, for attorneys general to be standing firm in the truth of these, to protect our democracy. We stood firm in 2020. It’s one of the reasons why I’m running for governor now in Michigan—to stand firm again against these federal attempts to undermine our elections.
COATES: Yet, as you personally know—I remember you were threatened, your family threatened. It was a very difficult time for you and so many other officials who were holding a particular line. The deterrence is not—or the idea of “I’ve got your back”—is not just for those who might commit acts, but it might actually cool people like you or others from wanting to participate as a part of the democracy. Is that true for you now?
BENSON: After the 2020 election, armed protesters showed up outside my home demanding that I block the will of the people from coming to fruition. Those attacks only made me and so many others in my position bolder, more determined to ensure free and fair elections continue in our states and throughout our country, because we see firsthand how fragile our democracy can be. And that in moments like that, it’s only the voters, the citizens, and the state and local officials who can stand in the way of these attacks…So I’ll proudly continue to do that as Secretary of State and hopefully as Michigan’s next governor, so that we can ensure that even in the midst of this very dark moment, state officials hold the line proudly and see it as our duty to do so.