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Michigan Lawmaker Who Peddled Trump's Election Lies Introduces Bill That Would Fine 'Fact Checkers'
Matt Maddock, a Republican state Congressman from Michigan, is well known for his refusal to accept the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election.
Like others in the GOP, Maddock's never questioned the legitimacy of the results of his own election.
Maddock and his wife, the co-chair of the Michigan GOP, even organized multiple busloads of people to participate in the January 6 insurrection.
Obviously, provable facts aren't a high priority for Maddock and fact checkers have been a constant annoyance for him.
Retaliating against those who point out when he is lying, Maddock recently introduced the Fact Checker Registration Act.
It would require all fact checkers in Michigan to register with the Secretary of State and "insure themselves with $1 million fidelity bonds."
In a proud post about his new bill, Maddock wrote to fact checkers:
"Don't be wrong, don't be sloppy, and you better be right."
According to the bill, any fact checker could be sued by any party for "any wrongful conduct that is a violation" of state law and would be subject to a "$1,000 fine per day for each day the violation continued."
Michigan state Rep. Matt Maddock has repeatedly been called out by fact-checking journalists for promoting baseless claims of widespread voter fraud and falsely suggesting covid-19 is comparable to the flu.\n\nNow he wants to register and fine fact-checkers:https://wapo.st/33C1pnD— The Washington Post (@The Washington Post) 1620825418
So Rep Matt Maddock wants to fine fact checkers for inaccuracies but no penalties for those who deliberately spread lies, conspiracy theories, and misinformation. \nYou can\u2019t make this stuff up.— seagod (@seagod) 1620840330
Maddock commented his bill was written because "people and businesses are being unfairly targeted and deplatformed and canceled because fact checkers deem them 'false'."
He said:
"But is there any accountability when a fact-checker gets it wrong? There isn't. Sloppy fact checkers like Snopes destroy lives, destroy business, destroy politicians and there is no penalty when they get it wrong."
Maddock failed to cite any instances in which Snopes or any other fact checker had been wrong.
Are they just pulling ideas out of their butts?— \ud83d\udc99\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2JuJu {vaxxed} TX Blue\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2\ud83d\udc99 (@\ud83d\udc99\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2JuJu {vaxxed} TX Blue\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2\ud83d\udc99) 1620840339
It's the 'say I told the truth even when I lie' bill.— Annie Gabston-Howell- (@Annie Gabston-Howell-) 1620837357
And yet the Republican voters seem to be okay with all of this. How can they not see?— Mimi the Knitter (@Mimi the Knitter) 1620905813
On the subject of what qualifies a person as a "fact checker," Maddock toldHuffpost in a text message:
"I don't think anyone knows how many fact checkers are doing business in Michigan but we will find out!"
I\u2019ve said since Day 2 of 45\u2019s administration that it should be a FELONY for any government employee to lie while speaking in an official capacity, from POTUS on down.— CynBlogger\u2122\ufe0f, GET VACCINATED! (@CynBlogger\u2122\ufe0f, GET VACCINATED!) 1620837667
Whew! If this makes you mad, you should see what he says about Michigan teachers on Facebook. How he was re-elected after that is just unreal!— Pamela Scheib (@Pamela Scheib) 1620920251
I think we should fine elected officials for spreading disinformation & lying to their constituents.— Zullo (@Zullo) 1620913431
Michigan Democrats denounced Maddock's law.
They pointed out it was an obvious violation of the first amendment and did nothing to address public figures who continuously lie.
I\u2019d imagine this law wouldn\u2019t stand up in court as it likely violates the 1st Amendment.— RodgerC \ud83c\udf08 (@RodgerC \ud83c\udf08) 1620908704
Clowns in politics #Michigan #Politics #Cowards #GOPCorruptionOverCountryhttps://twitter.com/metrotimes/status/1392500774350082051\u00a0\u2026— Limewire.exe (@Limewire.exe) 1620918932
Michigan Democrats called for the censure and removal of Maddock.
They cited his "continued attempts at undermining democracy by fomenting election conspiracy theories and assisting with the heinous attack on the U.S. Capitol."
Another of Michigan\u2019s finest. He and his wife took a bus load to DC for the insurrection.https://twitter.com/metrotimes/status/1392500774350082051\u00a0\u2026— Linda Lazar (@Linda Lazar) 1620904153
I don\u2019t feel the need to spend much time on this other than to say that Rep. Matt Maddock is obviously a clown who should figure out how to stop lying instead of worrying about his lies being corrected:https://twitter.com/metrotimes/status/1392500774350082051\u00a0\u2026— \ua4d7\u0430\u0455\u0455\u0430ndr\u0430 \ua4e2\u0435\u03bd\u0435n (@\ua4d7\u0430\u0455\u0455\u0430ndr\u0430 \ua4e2\u0435\u03bd\u0435n) 1620903812
It's unclear whether or not Maddock's bill will gain support in the Michigan House, but even if passed it would likely be vetoed by Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer.