During live interview, Jocelyn Benson says Lee Chatfield texted her he hasn’t confirmed meeting with Trump

During an interview with CNN Friday morning, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said she had not spoken with state Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield about their invitation to meet with President Trump in Washington.

• UPDATE 12:48 p.m.: Chatfield tweeted: “No matter the party, when you have an opportunity to meet with the President of the United States, of course you take it. I won’t apologize for that. In fact, I’m honored to speak with POTUS and proud to meet with him. And I look forward to our conversation. 🇺🇸”

However, during the live interview Benson said Chatfield texted her that “he hasn’t confirmed with anyone that he’s going or not.”

“Actually, the speaker just texted me and said he hasn’t confirmed with anyone that he’s going or not, so we’ll leave it at that,” Benson said during the live interview. “I’m just sharing with you all the information I have.”

The invitation from Trump to two of Michigan’s top elected Republicans comes in the middle of the state’s election certification process. It’s unclear exactly what the meeting is about, but there has been some suggestion from a few GOP activists that the state legislative leadership could change the state’s electors. Shirkey has said that that will not happen.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addressed the meeting in her Thursday COVID-19 briefing.

“All the meetings in the world though can’t take away from the fact that Joe Biden won Michigan by over 150,000 votes,” Whitmer said.

Representatives with the Michigan State House and Senate could not be reached for comment by Local 4 and ClickOnDetroit.

The state of Michigan’s Board of Canvassers is ready to certify the election results from all 83 counties on Monday.

Shirkey, meanwhile, was spotted at Detroit Metro Airport on Friday morning, presumably getting ready to board his flight to Washington where he will meet with the President.

Shirkey arrived to Reagan National Airport later Friday morning, video shows. He was met by protesters asking “what did Trump promise you?” and saying “shame on you, certify the results” and “where’s the fraud?”

Shirkey was wearing an American flag mask. CNN reports he quietly sung to himself as he was swarmed while departing the airport and getting into his vehicle.

Michigan: GOP canvassers can’t legally rescind Wayne County election certification vote

The Michigan Secretary of State’s office said in a statement Thursday that there is no legal mechanism for two Republican members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers to rescind their votes cast for certification.

“There is no legal mechanism for them to rescind their vote. Their job is done and the next step in the process is for the Board of State Canvassers to meet and certify,” said secretary of state spokeswoman Tracy Wimmer, the AP reports.

Click here to read more.