'Dumbfounded': Michigan secretary of state criticizes Trump for attack on mail-in voting

Michigan's secretary of state fought back against allegations of potential voter fraud from President Trump.

‘Dumbfounded’: Michigan Sec. of State responds to Trump attack over vote-by-mail

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Trump took issue with the secretary of state, Jocelyn Benson, after her office distributed absentee ballot applications to every eligible voter in Michigan. The president has repeatedly railed against mail-in voting efforts, specifically targeting Benson on Wednesday and accusing Michigan of going down a "voter fraud path" while threatening to withhold federal funding to the state.

Benson responded to the president's criticism later that day in an interview with MSNBC's Chris Hayes.

"Yeah, well, in Michigan, first, thanks for having me and giving me an opportunity to clarify and really amplify citizen’s right to vote by mail in Michigan, which they have under our state constitution. In November of 2018, citizens voted overwhelmingly to give themselves this right to vote by mail. It was supported by citizens on both sides of the political spectrum, and it's something citizens on both sides of the political spectrum have done," she explained.

" © David Eggert Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson speaks at a news conference about election security on March 5, 2020, in Lansing, Mich. With the national spotlight on our state and the pandemic happening in this uncertain time we’re living in, we felt and I feel it’s important now more than ever to give our voters the certainty, the clarity in knowing exactly how to vote in this year’s elections without leaving their home, safely and securely, and the clarity that comes with getting an application in the mail to request your ballot be sent to you to exercise this right," she added, before saying she was "dumbfounded" by the president's attack.

Benson also argued that she was confused by the apparent controversy because "Democratic and Republican secretaries of state are doing just what we’re doing here in Michigan." She went on to allege that there will be "an effort to misinform and confuse voters about their rights in this state."