Supporters of President Donald Trump gather on the steps of the Michigan state capital as the Electoral College votes, in Lansing, Mich., on Dec. 14, 2020. (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images)
Democratic electors were permitted to enter.
Only people with appointments or those taking part in the Electoral College process were able to enter the building because it was ordered closed by legislators due to “credible threats of violence,” a Michigan State Police officer told Republican electors while blocking their entry, video footage from the scene showed.
“We are electors,” the group of about a dozen said.
“The electors are already here, they’ve been checked in,” the officer responded.
“Not all of them,” one of the electors rejoined.
“All 16 electors that we’ve been advised by the governor’s staff that were going to be here to vote in the Electoral College have been checked in and are already here,” the officer said.
Meshawn Maddock, a Republican elector at large, said in a statement that GOP electors were still able to cast their ballots for President Donald Trump and send certificates to Washington.
“Today we did not replace any Democrat Electors. We sent Republican Electors along side the Democrat Electors just to be safe despite being blocked from entering the Capitol,” she said on Facebook.
The Michigan Republican Party didn’t return a voicemail.
The office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, didn’t pick up the phone or return a request for comment.
State Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield, both Republicans, didn’t respond to emails.
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