Armed Trump Supporters Protest Outside Home of Michigan Election Chief

Armed supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gathered outside Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s home on Saturday to protest the state’s election results, which have Joe Biden certified as the winner.

Benson, a Democrat, released a statement on Twitter Sunday denouncing the intimidation tactic as protesters were “shouting obscenities and chanting into bullhorns” while decorating for Christmas with her 4-year-old son.

“The demands made outside my home were unambiguous, loud and threatening. They targeted me in my role as Michigan’s Chief Election Officer,” Benson’s statement read. “But the threats of those gathered weren’t actually aimed at me ― or any other elected officials in this state. They were aimed at the voters.”

The Michigan appeals court turned down an appeal Friday from Trump’s campaign in a challenge to how absentee ballots were handled in Detroit and other issues.

In a brief order, the court said the lawsuit fails because Michigan’s election results, including Joe Biden’s 154,000-vote victory over Trump, were certified on Nov. 23, a week before the campaign filed an appellate brief.

The court said the president’s only recourse was a recount, but that has passed, too.

“Because plaintiff failed to follow the clear law in Michigan relative to such matters, their action is moot,” Judge Stephen Borrello said in a 2-1 order.

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Judge Patrick Meter disagreed, saying a three-judge panel should quickly hear the appeal.

“The issues are not moot because state electors have not yet been seated, the Electoral College has not yet been assembled and Congress has not yet convened to consider whether to exercise its powers under” the constitution, Meter said.

There was no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.