The House Oversight Committee is opening an investigation into troubling reports that noncitizens may be appearing in both jury pools and voter rolls in a critical swing state.
Committee Chairman James Comer of Kentucky, joined by Michigan Rep. John James, has sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi seeking answers about whether local practices in a Detroit-area county are extending rights reserved for U.S. citizens to individuals who are not legally eligible. Such actions, they warn, could violate federal law and undermine public trust in elections.
According to the lawmakers, noncitizens have shown up in Michigan’s jury pool and, in some cases, were registered to vote. The committee is requesting a briefing to better understand the Department of Justice’s role in addressing these issues and to determine whether similar problems may be occurring in other states.
Michigan’s jury pool is drawn from individuals who hold driver’s licenses or state identification cards. Under state law, applicants are automatically registered to vote unless they actively opt out. Comer and James argue this system may be contributing to serious oversights.
In Macomb County, Clerk Anthony Forlini reported that a cross-check between the state’s Qualified Voter File and the county jury pool uncovered significant breaches. Over a four-month period, 239 noncitizens were identified in the jury pool. Of those, 14 were found to have been registered to vote at some point.
Forlini described the findings as deeply alarming, noting that records suggest some noncitizens may have a voting history. In at least one case, an individual appeared to have voted multiple times—an issue that could carry felony consequences if confirmed.
The Department of Justice previously sued Michigan over its handling of voter information, adding to concerns about the state’s election systems.
Comer and James are now asking whether other states face similar issues and whether any local or state officials have resisted or delayed cooperation with federal investigations or corrective efforts.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson pushed back strongly against the claims, calling them reckless and accusing critics of prioritizing headlines over facts. She said the state has launched its own investigation and warned that eligible voters could be unfairly harmed by what she described as misinformation.
Despite the political pushback, House Republicans say the issue is too serious to ignore. They argue that safeguarding the integrity of voter rolls is fundamental to fair elections and public confidence—especially in closely contested states.
