Michigan Judge Dismisses Felony Charges in Alleged Voter Data Breach Case

Multiple reputable news outlets, including MSN and the nonpartisan MFEI, report that Hillsdale County Circuit Court Judge Sara Lisznyai dismissed all felony charges against Scott and Lambert in the alleged 2020 voter data breach case. The judge’s ruling removed the most serious count of using a computer to commit a crime, which could have carried up to seven years in prison. Verdict: True Analysis: The agreement between a mainstream news source and an election‑policy organization gives high confidence that the dismissal occurred as reported.

The judge’s written opinion, as covered by news reports and confirmed by MFEI, held that Michigan election law does not impose a confidentiality requirement on voter records that include birth dates and driver’s license numbers. Lisznyai wrote that the statute only exempts the information from disclosure under the state’s open records policy, with no additional nondisclosure mandate. Verdict: True Analysis: Consistent reporting from two independent outlets confirms the legal interpretation, supporting a true verdict with moderate‑high confidence.

Election‑focused reporting from MFEI states that Adams Township voters recalled Stephanie Scott from her position as township clerk in 2023, removing her from office before the criminal case proceeded. Verdict: True Analysis: Although only one source directly notes the recall, MFEI’s track record for factual election reporting provides reasonable confidence that the event occurred.