Established Fact
Detroit’s CTCL-funded partnership with the Michigan Secretary of State included the engagement of Christopher Thomas — former Michigan Bureau of Elections Director and 40-year state elections official under both Republican and Democratic administrations — as a senior advisor to Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey from September 3 through December 12, 2020. Thomas, a retired private consultant rather than an elected official or active state employee, advised the Clerk and management staff on election law procedures, absentee counting board operations, satellite offices, drop boxes, and Bureau of Elections matters, and had involvement in nearly all aspects of the November 3 election, including processing and tabulation at the TCF Center. The CTCL grant agreements applicable to Detroit contained explicit clawback provisions, giving CTCL sole-judgment authority to discontinue, withhold, or demand return of all or part of grant funds. The September 2, 2020 joint announcement of this partnership was issued through the Michigan Secretary of State’s official communications system, with SOS Jocelyn Benson quoted alongside CTCL’s executive director, promoting a privately funded arrangement through official state infrastructure.
Citations
Christopher Thomas served as Director of Elections for the Michigan Secretary of State from June 1981 through June 2017 — 36 years as Director, 40 years total in the Bureau of Elections. U.S. Vote Foundation, announcement (May 30, 2017), https://www.usvotefoundation.org/announcement-thomas ; Affidavit of Christopher Thomas ¶ 1, King v. Whitmer, No. 2:20-cv-13134 (E.D. Mich.), ECF No. 39, p. 2 (Dec. 2, 2020), https://www.mied.uscourts.gov/PDFFIles/PelDoc39.pdf
Michigan Secretary of State (via govdelivery official state notification system), “Winfrey, Benson announce partnership to support Detroit elections” (Sept. 2, 2020): “Hiring additional staff to support the City clerk’s office, including Christopher Thomas, former Michigan Bureau of Elections Director, who will serve as a senior advisor.” https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MISOS/bulletins/29cdba6. Thomas affidavit confirms: “I am a Senior Advisor to Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey beginning on September 3, 2020 until December 12, 2020.” ECF No. 39 at p. 2
Thomas Affidavit ¶ 2: “In this capacity I advise the Clerk and management staff on election law procedures, implementation of recently enacted legislation, revamped absent voter counting board, satellite offices and drop boxes, Bureau of Election matters and general preparation for the November 3, 2020 General Election.” City of Detroit brief: “Mr. Thomas had oversight and was involved in nearly all aspects of the election in the City, including the processing and tabulation at the TCF Center.” ECF No. 39 at p. 2–3. BridgeDetroit confirms Thomas’s engagement as “a three-month contract as an advisor and consultant”: Bisma Parvez, “Michigan’s former elections director on ‘the race factor’ in Detroit,” BridgeDetroit (Dec. 17, 2020), https://www.bridgedetroit.com/michigans-former-elections-director-on-the-race-factor-in-detroit/
CTCL–City of Detroit Grant Agreement (Aug. 2020 primary grant, $200,000): “CTCL may discontinue, modify, withhold part of, or ask for the return all or part of the grant funds if it determines, in its sole judgment, that (a) any of the above conditions have not been met or (b) it must do so to comply with applicable laws or regulations.” (¶ 7.) “Any amount reduced or not provided in contravention of this paragraph shall be repaid to CTCL up to the total amount of this grant.” (¶ 6.) Agreement on file via Just The News, https://justthenews.com/sites/default/files/2021-04/CTCL%20-%20Agreement%20-%20200k%20(1).pdf .
SOS press release (Sept. 2, 2020): partnership jointly announced by City Clerk Winfrey and SOS Benson, “supported by… the Center for Tech and Civic Life,” with CTCL Executive Director Tiana Epps-Johnson quoted: “CTCL is providing funding and technical support to numerous Michigan jurisdictions through its COVID-19 Response Grants.” Issued via Michigan Secretary of State official govdelivery notification system (MISOS account). https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MISOS/bulletins/29cdba6