Michigan Republicans Vote to Remove State GOP Chairwoman Karamo, GOP Calls Attempt Illegal
Some members of Michigan GOP voted to remove state GOP Chairwoman Kristina Karamo at a state committee meeting on Jan. 6. But the attempt was quickly denounced by the Michigan Republican Party, which called it illegal.
A Jan. 6 statement with the letterhead of the Michigan Republican Party claimed that Ms. Karamo was removed from her post and that Malinda Pego, who served as the co-chair of the party, will now be the acting chair. The statement was issued by Ms. Pego, according to a post on X, formerly Twitter, by investigative journalist Laura Loomer.
However, the Michigan GOP issued a statement dismissing these claims. “This allegation that Chairwoman Kristina Karamo has been removed is patently false,” Michigan GOP said in an X post.
“@mdeperno was easily defeated by Chairwoman Karamo by a blowout margin in their race for MI GOP Chairperson,” it said referring to Ms. Karamo defeating former Attorney General Matthew DePerno in February last year to become the GOP head. Mr. DePerno was endorsed by former President Donald Trump to be the chair. Ms. Karamo also has the backing of President Trump.
“This sore-loser retribution will not be tolerated within the Michigan Republican Party,” the party said. The meeting and vote to remove Ms. Karamo was held on Jan. 6.
“The rogue cabal of anti-grassroots establishment operatives, led by Malinda Pego, initiated the attempted coup when they colluded with Matt DePerno and other unethical individuals from the Oakland County Republican Committee,” the Michigan GOP said in a Jan. 6 press release.
The party claimed that the votes were “illegitimate” and violated Michigan Republican Party bylaws and the state election laws.
“Chairwoman Kristina Karamo and her administrative officials will take swift and decisive action to hold all participants in today’s attempted coup accountable to the fullest extent allowed under the rules of the Michigan Republican Party bylaws,” the statement said.
In a statement to CNN, Bree Moeggenberg from the Michigan GOP state committee said that more than 88 percent of party members were present for the Jan. 6 meeting and voted on whether to remove Ms. Karamo or not.
“We have taken the first step to engage and protect the various voices and liberties of all Republicans. … We have voted to remove Kristina Karamo as the Chair of the Michigan Republican Party.”
The conflict within Michigan GOP has grown ever since Ms. Karamo became the state chair. Under her leadership, the party has been struggling with poor finances. Many GOP members blame Ms. Karamo’s focus on grassroots fundraising rather than large donations for being responsible for the financial crisis.
This is an excerpt from The Epoch Times.
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