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DETROIT (WWJ) - A legally credentialed poll watcher said he was threatened and intimidated while attempting to perform his legally allowed duties of observing the election process at a polling location in Detroit.
Officials with the Michigan GOP say the incident happened Tuesday morning at precinct polling location 289.
The poll watcher, a lawyer, said he was confronted by a voter in line who demanded to see his credentials. The poll watcher, who was not identified, said he showed the man his credentials — but the voter allegedly said that wasn’t good enough and told the poll watcher that he had “a badge and a gun” before telling him to get out of the precinct.
The poll watcher said he exited the building before the voter produced a badge or brandished a gun and called 911. However, the poll watcher claims the Detroit Police refused to respond to his call, putting other voters at risk.
Michigan Republican Party Chairman Bobby Schostak issued a statement after hearing about the incident.
“Poll watchers, precinct workers and voters should not be put in danger when performing their duties, our Republic requires free and fair elections,” the statement read.
“I can only hope that this morning’s outlandish, reckless and dangerous behavior, was not part of a coordinated effort by the Democratic Party and therefore, I am calling on Mark Brewer, Democratic Party Chairman, to condemn these threats of violence and pledge to ensuring all election workers, volunteers and citizens remain safe,” said Schostak.
Police were not immediately available for comment on the situation.
