Protest forms as electors gather at State Capitol

(This story was updated at 3:12 p.m.)

MONDAY, Dec. 14 — A small protest formed this afternoon outside the Michigan State Capitol before the state’s 16 presidential electors unanimously cast their votes for President-elect Joe Biden.

About a dozen mostly maskless people, some with Trump flags, were seen shouting outside of the Capitol at about 1:30 p.m. today, about 30 minutes before the state’s presidential electors voted in the state Senate chamber. A limited number of people were allowed inside to watch. Michigan State Police troopers were seen escorting electors inside throughout the morning. 

Though some protesters were spouting unfounded conspiracies about election fraud in Michigan, the scene at the Capitol remained otherwise calm. No weapons were spotted this afternoon despite ongoing chatter about credible threats reportedly made against the state’s electors. The 16 votes were seemingly cast without a hitch for Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. 

One man carried a blow horn, insisting that President Donald Trump had won the election. South Lyon resident Bob Ray was among those protesting. A “forensic audit” of the election in Michigan should've been done before the votes were cast, he demanded. 

“All the votes were going to Trump by a landslide,” Ray said, waving a “Stop the Steal” sign at the Capitol before today's vote. 

State Rep. Gary Eisen made cryptic comments this morning about Republicans possibly trying a “Hail Mary” to intervene before the votes of Michigan’s presidential electors, reports the Detroit News. Eisen reportedly wouldn’t promise the day would be safe and that nobody would be harmed, noting that there had been a “bomb threat phoned in from Wisconsin” ahead of today’s vote.

Today, five other states where Trump contested his defeat also cast their electoral votes for Biden, including Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Biden plans to address the nation later today in response to the recent votes.