Trump Campaign Event Investigated Over Claims It Violated Election Law

The Michigan Bureau of Elections is reviewing two complaints alleging a sheriff’s office violated the law by hosting a campaign event for former President Donald Trump earlier this week.

The bureau will investigate after receiving complaints against the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office and Livingston County Sheriff Michael Murphy regarding alleged violations of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act, Angela Benander, a spokesperson for the Michigan Secretary of State’s office confirmed to Newsweek.

The law makes it a misdemeanor to use public resources for political purposes.

Benander said she could not provide additional information until the bureau completes its investigation and makes a determination in the case. Once a determination is made, it will be made publicly available on the Michigan Department of State’s website.

Newsweek has contacted the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office for comment via email.

In a video posted on Facebook on Monday, Murphy insisted Trump’s appearance was not political.

“Let me make a couple of things clear: One, this is not a political event. This is a press conference,” Murphy said in the video.

“There will be about 150 folks from the press here. There will be some special guests that are by invitation only…The former president’s coming to address the press regarding safety and crime.”

Murphy noted that several buildings surrounding the sheriff’s office would be closed during the event, including two courts and the prosecutor’s office.

However, Trump, the Republican nominee, spoke from a podium that featured his presidential campaign logo. Behind him were banners that said “Michigan is Trump Country” and “Make America Safe Again” and three sheriff’s office SUVs. According to the Detroit Metro Times, top sheriff officials attended the event during their regular shifts.

The Trump campaign has been contacted for comment via email.

Several residents responded to the Facebook post, criticizing the sheriff’s office for hosting the event and saying that it was political.

“How is a press conference you’re hosting at a local government building with a candidate for Federal Office (the Office of the President of the United States) not engaging in political speech?” Christopher Schrader wrote.

Juan Swan wrote: “I am saddened to see Livingston County Sherriff’s Department participating in such a partisan political theatrical event.”

Swan added: “Hosting convicted criminals and calling it a lecture on crime is an affront to the civil service you are sworn to provide.”

Deborah Kellog Lewis wrote: “This was a blatant misuse of public property and resources. This was no press conference, but one more opportunity for the felon to spew his lies.”

Trump was convicted in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection to hush money payments made to porn actor Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election to stay quiet about her alleged sexual counter with him. Trump denies any wrongdoing and Daniels’ allegations of a sexual encounter. Each count of falsifying business records is a class E felony, which under New York state law is punishable by a fine and up to four years in prison.

However, legal experts have said it is unlikely that Trump would be sentenced to prison for a first-time, nonviolent offense. His sentencing date had been set for July 11 but was postponed until September 18.