Letters to the Editor: The 'Big Gamble'
Recent reports seem to indicate that the day after Vice President Pence refused to certify “The Big Lie” on Jan. 6, the defeated president and his team decided to take “The Big Gamble.” This was a series of potentially illegal “forensic-audits” on the voting machines of several states in a “vigilante style” attempt to find evidence of cheating in the 2020 election.
The Department of Justice had already refused a request to audit the machines because there was no probable cause. Over 50 lawsuits that were filed by the defeated president and his team were dismissed for lack of evidence. And yet there appears to be a group of individuals who were so convinced that crimes were committed, that they would risk committing potential crimes themselves to prove it.
Michigan Attorney General Candidate Matthew DePerno may have been a “ringleader.” He raised nearly $400,000 in donations to be used in an Antrim County lawsuit with his firm’s "Election Fraud Defense Fund." When asked in a recent interview by the Detroit News (published Aug. 29) if he funded the unauthorized cyber investigation he replied "I can't answer that question, that would be a (attorney-client) privileged question."
DePerno placed the responsibility on the "the expert witnesses" saying "I was not in charge of the investigation." He also seemed to blame township and county clerks for granting access to the voting machines stating "I don't have any firsthand knowledge of that, but that's my understanding. And if that's true, because we're a home rule state, where local municipalities have autonomy, they can give permission or access to their equipment."
Many of the clerks that cooperated in the voting machine audits thought they were assisting an official investigation. They expected to be heroes, not co-defendants. Now they may face fines or jail time. Some have indicated that they are cooperating in this ongoing investigation.
“The BIG Question” that the Republican Party needs to ask itself is how long it will continue to support this nonsense. So far their response can only be described as “The Big Disappointment.”
Randall RousseloRoscommon
Expanding Camp Grayling unnecessary
I would like to write a response opinion to Maj. Gen. Gregory Vadnais.
Sir, first and foremost I want to thank you for your service. I also deeply appreciate all of our military personnel. I believe most of the citizens that oppose this unnecessary expansion have my same sentiments.
While we lay on the green grass beneath the beautiful northern Michigan star-filled skies, breathing in the scent of our Great Lakes and rivers and listening to the peaceful calm that our military has fought to allow us to do. Just as the MI DNR mission is to conserve, protect, and manage the use of our natural and cultural resources for future generations. We'd rather not be upon radiated soil, contaminated rivers, breathe toxic fumes, suffer Cuba Syndrome or develop cancer. All of which are a probability if some of these exercises continue on our state land.
The National All Domain Warfighting Center has more than enough land, (having combined the four areas) to do any research, testing as well as the critical readiness training you mentioned.
None of us have enough statistical information about Electromagnetic Warfare or Radio Frequency Jamming to say with 100% certainty that these exercises wouldn't cause serious health issues to us. Mainly to our children.
It has been repeatedly mentioned by Col. Scott Meyers that the expansion would provide our protected lands to non-military and private sector businesses to rent for their research and testing as well. Col. Meyers wants the world to know that Michigan is the place to come for all of their militia readiness. I'm quite certain we have learned that vetting these private sector businesses is critical to homeland safety. Never forget the 9/11 terrorists trained here for years.
The pathway forward is to use the combined lands that Camp Grayling already boasts about Michigan having to offer in order to achieve the necessary military readiness to protect our nation. Michigan citizens have patriotically, and willing welcomed our soldiers and airmen. The 300,000 plus acres is enough.
Dawn CucinelliHazel Park
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Letters to the Editor: The 'Big Gamble'
