Nessel wants outside prosecutor to look into election tampering allegations

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has asked a council of local prosecutors to take the unusual step of naming an outside counsel to look into allegations of election tampering and illegally seizing voting machines. The reason: One of the targets of the inquiry is her likely November election opponent, Matthew DePerno.

In the filing, Nessel’s office said the request for a special prosecutor is necessary to avoid a conflict of interest in the case.

From the filing with the Prosecuting Attorneys Coordinating Council:

“When this investigation began there was not a conflict of interest. However, during the course of the investigation, facts were developed that DePerno was one of the prime instigators of the conspiracy.”

The filing says “now it is time for a prosecutorial review of the charges.”

The allegations include taking part in seizing vote tabulators from local clerks and breaking into them to look at the results.