The Political Insider

Complete chaos has erupted in Wayne County, Michigan – home of Detroit – where the county had initially refused to certify the 2020 election results, only to completely reverse itself and certify the results in a span of hours.

After refusing to certify the results of the Nov. 3 election in a deadlocked 2-2 vote, the Wayne Count Board of Canvassers then re-voted 4-0 to unanimously certify the results.

Initially, Monica Palmer, a Republican on the Board, had said that poll books in Detroit were out of balance.

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Team Trump legal adviser Jenna Ellis tweeted late Tuesday, “BREAKING: This evening, the county board of canvassers in Wayne County, MI refused to certify the election results.  If the state board follows suit, the Republican state legislator will select the electors. Huge win for @realDonaldTrump.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany shared a similar message:

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President Trump also cheered the initial deadlocked vote:

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Board chairwoman Monica Palmer, who is a Republican, told the Detroit News, “Based on what I saw and went through in poll books in this canvass, I believe that we do not have complete and accurate information in those poll books.”

Board Vice Chairman Jonathan Kinloch, who is a Democrat, called not certifying the results, “reckless and irresponsible.”

Then the reversal came. 

Why?

That the election was certified so quickly after originally being blocked may look suspicious to many, given that election irregularities have been claimed in Michigan this cycle, particularly in Detroit.

The Detroit News noted, “In August, 72% of Detroit’s poll books were found to be out of balance, a condition that precluded them from being used if a recount were requested.”

Many have claimed the quick reversal happened due to nefarious influence.

The Detroit news notes that there was an hours-long public comment period after the deadlock vote, and that “the vote was described as a targeted attack on majority-Black Detroit, the largest city in the county and state.”

Commentators on the right singled out a man named Ken Staebler, who they believe used threatening language to intimidate the Board.

Watch for yourself: 

Other members of the public made impassioned pleas for the board to certify the results:

If there really were irregularities, as Palmer had claimed, and they certified them anyway, what does that say about our system?

Regardless of the outcome, the results of this election are going to be questioned by many for a long time to come.