Prosecutorial Threats Against Media (“Detroit Leaks”)(MI)

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued cease-and-desist threats to media outlets hosting the “Detroit Leaks” poll-worker training video, threatening potential criminal prosecution to force removal of content showing controversial instructions given to Detroit election workers regarding how to use COVID six foot rule to obstruct Republican poll challengers. The “six foot rule” was subsequently struct down by court order, but many poll workers had already been instructed in the unlawful rule. The suppression of a lawfully obtained video documenting official government training activities implicates both the First Amendment and 18 U.S.C. § 242.