Michigan SOS “Fact-Check” Page – Media Coordination (MI)

[Disputed Fact – Coordination with media] The Michigan Secretary of State’s office established and maintained a public-facing “SOS Fact-Check” web page during and after the 2020 election, which was used to label specific citizen affidavits, audit claims, and investigative findings as “misinformation” or “debunked.” The page utilized state government resources and the official authority of the Secretary of State to suppress protected political speech and documentary evidence by characterizing it as misinformation without adversarial process, sworn testimony, or evidentiary hearing. The practical effect was that media outlets, including those that coordinated with state officials, could cite the SOS Fact-Check page as official government confirmation when dismissing fraud allegations – creating a circular reinforcement loop between government narrative management and media reporting. Whether coordination between the SOS office and private media entities in maintaining this page violated First Amendment state-action doctrine or 18 U.S.C. §242 requires further investigation.