Thread by @RothTheReporter

Democratic Rep. @DarrinCamilleri tries to swear in @RudyGiuliani. Chair Matt Hall says that won't happen. Goes to a vote; Republicans vote down the motion. #MILeg

Chair Matt Hall says each representative on the committee will be allowed to ask @RudyGiuliani one question. No follow-ups allowed "because of the shenanigans" of trying to swear Giuliani in. Says this committee meeting will last around three hours, until roughly 9 pm. #MILeg

.@RudyGiuliani, as part of his testimony to the House Oversight Committee, is questioning a "witness" he brought. Nobody is under oath. This is... not usually how testimony to committees works. #MILeg

This is a very unusual setup. Legislators on the House Oversight Committee will each get to ask just one question of each person who testifies (with no follow-ups) but are currently watching as @RudyGiuliani asks seemingly as many questions of each person as he wants. #MILeg

.@RudyGiuliani is not wearing a mask at this committee meeting, which is being held in person. He asked the person currently testifying to remove her mask as well, but legislators said they could hear her while wearing it so she kept it on. #MILeg

It's not clear what the first person questioned by @RudyGiuliani is alleging. But Giuliani just asked her to clarify an answer she gave, asking whether it was 100 ballots or 32,000 ballots. In an actual court, which this is not, that would likely be leading the witness. #MILeg

Some allegations by the first person questioned by @RudyGiuliani are just the system working as it's supposed to (not requiring a license to vote, allowing voters to spoil their absentee ballots without an affidavit before Election Day, etc.). #MILeg

Democrats on House Oversight Committee tried to say something a few mins ago, but Hall said they were out of order.

More than an hour in, legislators haven't been allowed to ask any questions at the meeting. But @RudyGiuliani, who is himself testifying, has asked many. #MILeg

Hard hitting questioning from @RudyGiuliani in testimony to the House Oversight Committee, where legislators haven't been allowed to speak: "Were you shocked at the level of dishonesty and crookedness there?" #MILeg

Rep. David LaGrand (D) corrects the record, asking if this first witness is aware that you don't need an ID to vote in Michigan.

She answers that she believes the rule is you need an ID.

LaGrand says "you're confused." #MILeg

Rep. @DarrinCamilleri tries to ask @RudyGiuliani a question, but Chairman Matt Hall gavels him down; questions for Giuliani at the end.

Giuliani said "objection" to several things Camilleri said, which led to him pointing out this is not a courtroom. #MILeg

.@DarrinCamilleri to Chairman Hall after being gaveled down: "I know you gave your power away to Mr. Giuliani to ask questions during this part of the testimony. That's fine. But it is now my right as a representative to ask questions of the people before our committee." #MILeg

Rep. Cynthia Johnson says the witnesses should be under oath if they're making serious claims. Chairman Hall says she's out of order. #MILeg

Second witness is making lots of bold claims with no evidence whatsoever, many of them secondhand hearsay.

Rep. Cynthia Johnson tries to say something. The witness tells the state representative "I love how you can just say anything" and says "this is funny." #MILeg

Chairman Matt Hall asks why more people aren't coming forward, noting that if there was widespread fraud there would be dozens of people coming forward with evidence.

Carone says it's because "Democrats ruin your life" if you come forward. #MILeg

Rep. Steven Johnson (R) points out the poll book isn't off by 30,000 votes.

Carone says it may be off by 100,000 with no evidence, and asks the representative "what did you guys do, take it and do something?" #MILeg

That witness was just another way that this committee meeting is highly unusual. Typically, people testifying don't interrupt, impugn and make wild claims about the state legislators asking them questions. #MILeg

Several of the claims being made at this House Oversight Committee meeting are so outlandish and lacking of evidence that I and other reporters seem to be struggling to fully follow what's being alleged. #MILeg

This current witness seems to have just said that racism primarily exists against white males(?), whereas she has more privilege as an Indian American woman. #MILeg

Republican Rep. Steve Johnson, one of the more conservative members of the Michigan House, has seemed, in his questions, mostly unconvinced by unfounded claims of voter fraud. Democratic Rep. Mari Manoogian praises his questioning: #MILeg

https://twitter.com/marimanoogian/status/1334319554282008576

Monica Palmer is beginning to testify to the committee now, about 30 minutes after the meeting was supposed to end. When she's done legislators will be able to ask her questions, then ask Giuliani questions. #MILeg

About an hour after the meeting was supposed to end, @RudyGiuliani is beginning his closing remarks. Each legislator on the committee will then have an opportunity to ask him one question. #MILeg

.@RudyGiuliani seems to suggest that members of the Board of State Canvassers should be prosecuted for making a "false statement" to the federal government.

Giuliani says he doesn't know what Michigan's vote was, but somehow knows that it was off by at least 300k votes. #MILeg

.@RudyGiuliani follows @realDonaldTrump's lead in attacking @GovWhitmer, though this is happening in front of the Michigan House of Representatives and not at a campaign rally.

He says #COVID19 restrictions are "like they like to be dictators, these Democrat governors." #MILeg

Rep. LaGrand asks Giuliani, since Michigan has paper ballots, "why on Earth did you not ask for a recount" if there's so much fraud.

Giuliani says they'd just be counting the same fraudulent ballots again. There's no evidence of widespread fraud. #MILeg

Rep. Camilleri asks if Giuliani reportedly seeking a pardon from the president is linked to this show, and why the #MILeg should take the claims seriously when Barr, courts, etc. have found no evidence of fraud.

Giuliani says he wants him punished because it's "defamation."

Chairman Matt Hall gavels down Rep. Cynthia Johnson (D), because she wanted to make a statement rather than ask a question. He then allows John Reilly (R) to speak about his opinions on the election without asking a question. #MILeg

Rep. Steve Johnson (R) asks Giuliani how Republicans can claim voter fraud when Trump's numbers in Detroit increased by a net 5% from 2016.

Giuliani says it could have actually increased by 10% if it was legitimate. Still no evidence that it wasn't legitimate. #MILeg

Rep. Cynthia Johnson asks @RudyGiuliani if he believes that he and the president are honest men. Chairman Matt Hall gavels her down, turns her mic off and says she's out of order. #MILeg

The meeting has adjourned, about an hour and forty minutes later than expected. #MILeg