Stan Grot, the Shelby Township Clerk in Michigan, has been temporarily prohibited from administering elections due to pending charges related to his alleged involvement as a false elector for Donald Trump in the 2020 election. The Michigan Bureau of Elections issued the notification on Thursday, barring Grot from electoral duties while the legal proceedings unfold.
Grot, a Republican who has held the clerk position since 2012, is among 16 individuals charged by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel for allegedly signing certificates falsely claiming Trump's victory in the state. The charges, including forgery and conspiracy to commit election forgery, carry a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment for the most severe offenses.
While acknowledging the presumption of innocence, the Bureau of Elections emphasized in its letter that Grot's alleged participation in the fake elector scheme erodes public trust in electoral integrity. Grot has confirmed his intention to comply with the directive, though he declined to comment on the specific charges against him.
Although barred from election administration, Grot will continue to fulfill his other clerical responsibilities, such as preparing agendas and documenting meetings. This case adds to a growing list of legal repercussions faced by local officials nationwide for alleged actions stemming from challenges to the 2020 election results.
Grot and the other accused individuals allegedly convened at Michigan Republican Party headquarters on December 14, 2020, where they signed and submitted fraudulent documents to Congress and the National Archives, falsely asserting themselves as legitimate electors for Trump.
The group includes prominent figures like Kathy Berden, head of the Michigan Republican National Committee chapter, and Meshawn Maddock, former co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party. The 16 individuals are scheduled for arraignment in an Ingham County district court on August 10.
Grot's prior experience includes roles as a county commissioner, county deputy treasurer, and assistant secretary of state. He previously pursued the Republican nomination for secretary of state in 2018 but withdrew due to personal and political considerations.
