WASHINGTON – Today, the RNC sued the City of Detroit Department of Elections for deleting drop box surveillance footage after we had requested it – violating the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and raising serious election integrity alarms.

RNC Chairman Michael Whatley stated: “Deleting drop box surveillance footage while there is a pending FOIA request for it is an assault on transparency. This breach of trust is exactly what reduces confidence in our elections. We will hold Detroit accountable, as this secrecy has no place in a fair and secure election -- Michiganders deserve far better.”

Background:  

• On August 20, 2024, we submitted a FOIA request for drop box video surveillance footage after being alerted to a potential election integrity concern during the primary election. We requested the footage from August 7th and 8th to verify the situation.
• Detroit immediately acknowledged our request on August 21st and asked for an extension to produce the footage. Then on September 16th, we received a response, letting us know that the footage was “automatically” deleted after 30 days.
• Deleting footage that is the subject of a pending FOIA request—submitted more than two weeks before the footage was deleted—is a clear violation of FOIA. Detroit had a clear legal obligation to preserve and provide the footage, which they violated.
• We are suing to hold the city accountable for its failure to maintain drop box footage while FOIA requests are pending and to ensure this does not happen for the general election.
• President Trump’s election integrity operation is combating these continuous acts of election interference. We are dedicated to securing a fair and transparent election.

Read the complaint HERE.