A 16 March 2021 FBI Detroit electronic communication opens a full investigation into allegations of fraudulent voter-registration submissions and possible payments for registrations in Michigan.
The memorandum opens a full investigation and notifies the FBI Public Corruption Unit; it also records that consultation with the Department of Justice Public Integrity Section had been completed on 11 March 2021. This is an opening document, not a final investigative finding.
“To open a full investigation and notify the Public Corruption Unit of the case opening.”
“Consultation with DOJ Public Integrity Section was completed on March 11, 2021.”
The FBI recorded that Michigan state and local authorities were investigating allegations that fraudulent registration applications had been submitted to the Muskegon City Clerk's Office. The communication also relayed a local-police estimate that redacted individuals had delivered between 8,000 and 10,000 registrations; the estimate was part of the predication narrative, not a finding that every form was fraudulent.
“were investigating allegations of fraudulent voter registrations being submitted to the Muskegon City Clerk's Office (MCCO).”
“delivered between 8,000 to 10,000 registrations.”
The memorandum says an interviewed woman described herself as a first-level supervisor of canvassers working in six Michigan cities. It notes that she first said canvassers were paid for each completed form, then changed her account to hourly pay.
“she was a first level supervisor overseeing "canvassers" with canvassing being conducted in Muskegon, Detroit, Ypsilanti, Southfield, Flint, and Lansing.”
“canvassers were paid for each completed form, but later changed her statement and indicated they were paid hourly.”
The opening communication states that information or allegations supported investigating possible federal criminal activity. It characterizes the significant issue as potential payments for registrations connected to the 2020 national election, without presenting a final determination that a crime occurred.
“There is information or an allegation the subject, and others yet unknown, were engaging in and/or are currently engaged in possible federal criminal activity.”
“The allegations involve potential payments for registrations for the 2020 national election”
The communication says a U.S. Attorney had been informed and referenced possible wire-fraud or other provable federal charges against redacted subjects. The planned methods included public information, subpoenas, interviews, and consensual recordings; these were prospective investigative actions, not adjudicated results.
“violations of 18 U.S.C. 1343 (Wire Fraud) or any other federal criminal laws that could be proven.”
“obtaining publicly available information, recovering records/information via subpoena, interviews, and consensual recordings.”