A 'constitutional sheriff' tried to seize voting machines in 2020. Officials are bracing for a repeat.
A 'constitutional sheriff' tried to seize voting machines in 2020. Officials are bracing for a repeat.
In a rural county in southwest Michigan, a sheriff who sees himself as holding supreme authority has become a hero in the election denial movement.
Summary
"Constitutional sheriffs" are a group of law enforcement officials who believe they hold supreme authority in their counties and can disregard state and federal law.
These sheriffs have become prominent figures in the election denial movement, and some have taken actions that critics view as dangerous, such as attempting to seize voting machine, assembling armed posses to patrol near polling stations, and refusing to enforce any law they view to be unconstitutional.
The Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, led by Richard Mack, has bolstered the movement, attracting sheriffs nationwide and featuring prominent election denial figures like Mike Lindell and Michael Flynn at their events
I don’t care if your title is “sheriff”, or if you call yourself “constitutional”. By seizing voting machines, you’re a petty tyrant who’s not enforcing any law but your own.
They honestly sound like those sovereign citizens crap
The real problem is that these people get away with it. There are no consequences to their actions. If no one is going to hold them accountable then it's not just a belief they have, they really are above the law.
22lr disagrees
Just an FYI that is probably surprising to nobody: the constitutional sheriff's movement has its roots from a white supremacist organization.
I'm shocked!
But not that shocked?
The fact that this is legal, and these people are walking around free to intimidate people and conspire to interfere with elections are atrocities and should not be tolerated by anybody.
I’m taking Tuesday off, and after voting, I plan to spend my morning with my boys working in the yard. Then I’ll take them to their mother’s so they can play with the neighbor’s grandson. After that, I’m treating my kids to their favorite restaurant, finished off with some local ice cream.
Maybe I’m being over dramatic, but I worry that by the time Wednesday rolls around, the shit will hit the fan regardless of who wins Tuesday night.
At least, I hope I’m being over dramatic. 😔
Saturday will be the day shit hits the fan.
The only person saying they won on Tuesday, will be Hërr GröpenFührer.
Tolerated... We got a major party ready to dismantle what little democracy we got. The GOP collectively lost their shit cause their orange gibbon lost 2020 and could handle it. So in 2024 they've doubled down on the geriatric man child.
If we get this wrong we should apologize to the King of England and rejoin the commonwealth.
I live near where Dar Leaf is sheriff. He's a douche that also wanted to protect the people plotting to assassinate Gov Whitmer. Maybe he should focus on the fact that he's sheriff of the meth capital of Michigan.
We in Barry county somehow failed to vote him out. Truly shameful that he will continue to be sheriff
The biggest part I don't understand is say he gets to do what he wants, what exactly is he going to do? Because to me, the only thing I can think of is actually cause election fraud. I hate that we allow this to happen all the time now. Just arrest these people already!
The thing is, if you do something illegal on election day, and cause a whole polling station in a democratic area to be shut down, that still ends up with a bunch of votes not being cast, and potentially an election bring swung.
These people count on getting pardoned after the fact.
Is the FBI ...awake?
A constitutional sheriff is the sovereign citizen of law enforcement. Stupid and full shit.
I wouldn't exactly call it "bracing", they're always ready for expected nuisances, like the nightly burst of drunk drivers after bars close.