Hamtramck's City Clerk Sues Mayor and Council Over Retaliation for Reporting Election Irregularities
In a lawsuit filed in Wayne County Circuit Court, Hamtramck City Clerk Rana Faraj has accused the city's mayor and council members of retaliating against her for reporting alleged ballot harvesting, voter intimidation, and residency fraud during the 2025 election cycle.
Faraj, who has served as clerk for over four years, claims that she was "unlawfully retaliated against and constructively discharged" after notifying state and county officials of irregularities involving candidates and their supporters. The lawsuit was filed by Marko Law, the same firm representing two other Hamtramck whistleblowers in a separate case.
According to Faraj's complaint, she reported ballot harvesting and interference with election administration to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on March 12. Her complaint came before criminal charges were filed against two men, including a sitting council member, for alleged absentee-ballot crimes. Faraj later testified against the council member in court, and the lawsuit notes that "several other witnesses scheduled to testify had their windows broken out the night before the exam."
The lawsuit alleges that city officials kept an eye on Faraj, monitored her arrival and departure times, and openly discussed trying to find something to hold against her after she contacted the Attorney General's Office. One council member told her that colleagues believed she had "authored the AG letter," according to the lawsuit.
Faraj also claims that the city broke the chain of custody for 37 valid absentee ballots that were never counted in a mayoral race decided by fewer than a dozen votes. On election night, workers in Absent Voter Precinct 2 reported a discrepancy between the number of ballots issued and the number tabulated. Faraj immediately notified Wayne County and followed state guidance.
Two days later, staff found 37 signed ballot envelopes, which still contained ballots, that had been mistakenly mixed with emptied envelopes. Faraj's office photographed and documented the discovery, notified Wayne County, and delivered the ballots within 30 minutes with a police escort.
However, the lawsuit alleges that city officials had already broken the chain of custody. Five non-election staff, including the interim city manager, entered the clerk's office after hours on November 5 and early November 6. They were not sworn election workers, and they were not authorized to access the ballots, which could no longer be counted under state law.
Faraj was placed on paid administrative leave and publicly accused of "election meddling" and "election interference." She claims that the accusations were false and part of a coordinated effort to blame her for issues she had repeatedly warned about. The lawsuit argues that the city's actions constitute a "constructive discharge," arguing that the city stripped her of the ability to perform her elected duties while pushing a false version of events.
Attorney Jonathan Marko said, "Rana did what every city clerk is supposed to do, she followed the law and told the truth, and Hamtramck tried to run her out of the job for it." He added that this is not the first time city leadership has gone after someone for speaking up, and at some point, it stops being a mistake and starts being a pattern.
The lawsuit seeks reinstatement, damages, and court orders requiring the city to stop retaliating against Faraj and correct the public record. Hamtramck faces increasing legal scrutiny and a county, state, and federal investigation into alleged absentee-ballot fraud and questions about whether sitting council members actually live in the city.
In a lawsuit filed in Wayne County Circuit Court, Hamtramck City Clerk Rana Faraj has accused the city's mayor and council members of retaliating against her for reporting alleged ballot harvesting, voter intimidation, and residency fraud during the 2025 election cycle.
Faraj, who has served as clerk for over four years, claims that she was "unlawfully retaliated against and constructively discharged" after notifying state and county officials of irregularities involving candidates and their supporters. The lawsuit was filed by Marko Law, the same firm representing two other Hamtramck whistleblowers in a separate case.
According to Faraj's complaint, she reported ballot harvesting and interference with election administration to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on March 12. Her complaint came before criminal charges were filed against two men, including a sitting council member, for alleged absentee-ballot crimes. Faraj later testified against the council member in court, and the lawsuit notes that "several other witnesses scheduled to testify had their windows broken out the night before the exam."
The lawsuit alleges that city officials kept an eye on Faraj, monitored her arrival and departure times, and openly discussed trying to find something to hold against her after she contacted the Attorney General's Office. One council member told her that colleagues believed she had "authored the AG letter," according to the lawsuit.
Faraj also claims that the city broke the chain of custody for 37 valid absentee ballots that were never counted in a mayoral race decided by fewer than a dozen votes. On election night, workers in Absent Voter Precinct 2 reported a discrepancy between the number of ballots issued and the number tabulated. Faraj immediately notified Wayne County and followed state guidance.
Two days later, staff found 37 signed ballot envelopes, which still contained ballots, that had been mistakenly mixed with emptied envelopes. Faraj's office photographed and documented the discovery, notified Wayne County, and delivered the ballots within 30 minutes with a police escort.
However, the lawsuit alleges that city officials had already broken the chain of custody. Five non-election staff, including the interim city manager, entered the clerk's office after hours on November 5 and early November 6. They were not sworn election workers, and they were not authorized to access the ballots, which could no longer be counted under state law.
Faraj was placed on paid administrative leave and publicly accused of "election meddling" and "election interference." She claims that the accusations were false and part of a coordinated effort to blame her for issues she had repeatedly warned about. The lawsuit argues that the city's actions constitute a "constructive discharge," arguing that the city stripped her of the ability to perform her elected duties while pushing a false version of events.
Attorney Jonathan Marko said, "Rana did what every city clerk is supposed to do, she followed the law and told the truth, and Hamtramck tried to run her out of the job for it." He added that this is not the first time city leadership has gone after someone for speaking up, and at some point, it stops being a mistake and starts being a pattern.
The lawsuit seeks reinstatement, damages, and court orders requiring the city to stop retaliating against Faraj and correct the public record. Hamtramck faces increasing legal scrutiny and a county, state, and federal investigation into alleged absentee-ballot fraud and questions about whether sitting council members actually live in the city.
rana faraj is literally a hero for reporting all that election shadiness, and now she's being silenced 
it's wild that they tried to intimidate her and make her look like an election meddler lol what's next? are they gonna sue the AG for "election meddling" too 
