‘America First’ Republicans appear in court as infighting continues

HILLSDALE — A number of America First Republicans who previously served as officers on the Hillsdale County Republican Executive Committee pleaded not guilty to violating a temporary restraining order issued in November 2022 to prevent them from conducting business as the county's GOP party.

Jon-Paul Rutan, Daren Wiseley, Jon Smith, Lance Lashaway, Josh Gritzmaker and Belle Stier sat in the jury box of Hillsdale’s 1st Judicial Circuit Court as visiting Judge Michael Olsaver read the allegations and advised them of his intent not to impose jail time for the violations.

Many of the violations stemmed from a November 2022 competing county convention at Sozo Church while the Leininger faction of the Republican Party met in the 4H Building at the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds.

The slate of officers stepped down after Olsaver issued his initial order months ago and new officers stepped up to lead the America First Republicans who chose David Mosby Jr., a military veteran, as their chair.

More:Court rules against 'America First' faction in ongoing Republican rift

While in court on those matters, attorneys representing the Leininger faction urged Olsaver to consider a motion for a new temporary restraining order against Mosby and the new officers on Thursday, Feb. 2, as Mosby had contested a ruling issued by Michigan GOP Chair Ron Weiser siding with Leininger’s faction and a hearing of the Michigan GOP credentialing committee was scheduled for Friday, Feb. 3.

The America First Republicans took issue with the request because some of them had only been served the day prior — on Wednesday, Feb. 1 — and had not had a chance to read the 96-page motion. Others had not yet been served at all.

“They (Leininger’s faction) are trying to use legal warfare to silence our voices and mine will not be silenced,” Jon Smith said when given the chance to speak. “I am here today because my county government are tyrants.”

The America First Republicans urged Olsaver to let the Michigan GOP decide on the administrative challenge to Weiser’s December 2022 ruling.

“I will respect whatever the state (GOP’s) decision is,” Mosby said.

More:‘America First’ Republicans will send delegates to state convention

“I don’t believe the court has the authority or jurisdiction to issue a ruling on this,” Wiseley said.

Mosby said whoever the Michigan GOP chooses to recognize is up to them and not the court.

“I would appreciate it if the court would respect that,” Mosby said.

Olsaver issued a ruling on the matter in the morning hours of Friday, Feb. 3, denying the request for the TRO and leaving it to the Michigan GOP credentialing committee to address the administrative dispute, but reserving the right for either party to readdress the issue in court if they believed the Michigan GOP rules incorrectly.

"If the credentials committee does not resolve the matter in plaintiff's favor, the potential for a judicial remedy remains available," Olsaver stated. "Further, the court finds that, at this juncture, the defendants would suffer a greater harm than plaintiff if the requested order is entered."

Attorney Stanley Sala, who is representing Josh Gritzmaker in the case, issued a statement shortly after the ruling was released.

"I agree with the court's opinion," Sala said. "I do think the state Republican Party needs to resolve this without litigation. The court's docket is congested already."

Attorney Jonathan Lauderbach from Warner Norcross + Judd LLP out of Lansing, hired to represent the Leininger faction, did not immediately return a call requesting comment on Olsaver's ruling.

The Michigan GOP's credentialing committee did not make a decision before print deadline Feb. 3.

The America First Republicans who pleaded not guilty to contempt of court are due back at 1:30 p.m. May 25 for an evidentiary hearing.

Olsaver has also scheduled a hearing on a preliminary injunctive order for 8:30 a.m. March 6.

The rift between the two factions became evident Aug. 11, 2022, when Leininger’s faction and dozens of newly elected precinct delegates from the Aug. 2, 2022, primary election were barred from entering the county convention held at Sozo Church.

On Aug. 25, 2022, days before the Michigan GOP fall convention, Leininger’s faction convened its own meeting and elected a temporary executive committee to serve through the end of the year, ousting Wiseley and the America First Republicans, who dismissed the Leininger faction’s actions that day as unlawful.

During the August 2022 Michigan GOP convention, Weiser sided with the America First Republicans but changed course Dec. 28, 2022, when he authored a three page letter explaining his decision to then side with the Leininger faction.

More:MIGOP chair sides with Leininger faction in local party rift

“The Michigan GOP has thoroughly reviewed this matter and in light of the supermajority of precinct delegates and elected officials from Hillsdale County who once again were forced to attend an alternate convention after being refused entry to Mr. (Daren) Wiseley’s convention … the Michigan Republican Party acknowledges Brent Leininger and his executive committee as the newly elected leadership of the Hillsdale Republican Party,” Weiser stated.

The America First Republicans contend they never refused any of the Leininger faction’s delegates entry into their November 2022 county convention and went out of their way to invite them to work together.

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“We extended that olive branch,” Mosby said during an earlier interview.

In earlier interviews with Smith — who maintains relationships with other Republicans across the state including Michigan GOP Co-Chair Meshawn Maddock and State Rep. Steve Carra — he indicated rifts are mounting in local county parties across the state.

In West Michigan's Ottawa County, members of the county GOP sued the executive committee in December, forcing the group to redo its convention, after a circuit court judge agreed that the group didn't follow its own bylaws.

America First Republicans have taken over leadership in Jackson County, Lenawee County, Macomb County and elsewhere throughout the state, working toward a united agenda to oust Republicans from the party who "do not hold true to party values," according to Smith.

— Corey Murray is the Public Safety Reporter for The Hillsdale Daily News, Sturgis Journal and The Daily Reporter. Contact him by email at cmurray@hillsdale.net or follow him on Twitter: @cmurrayHDN.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: ‘America First’ Republicans appear in court as infighting continues