Judge issues warrant for Lambert Junttila in 2020 voting machine case • Michigan Advance – Michigan Advance
Defense attorney Michael J. Smith appears before Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Jeffery S. Matis on March 7, 2024. | Screenshot
Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Jeffery S. Matis issued a bench warrant for Attorney Stefanie Lambert Junttila, granting a request from the prosecution after she repeatedly failed to provide fingerprints and a DNA sample as required by law.
Lambert Junttila did not appear at the Thursday show cause hearing and will have 24 hours to turn herself in, with prosecutor Tim Maat requesting that the warrant not be executed until 5 p.m. Friday in line with a previous agreement he had made with Lambert Junttila, where she asked that Maat not send officers to her home to arrest her.
“One of the conversations I had with her, with her counsel present, was, ‘If the grand jury decides to indict, can you promise me you won’t send the police to my house and have me arrested?’ I said yes. She says, ‘I got kids. I don’t want them to see that.’ I said, ‘No problem; just let us work with your lawyer,’” Maat said.
Lambert Junttila is one of three individuals indicted as part of a probe into alleged tampering with voting tabulators following the 2020 election where President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump. Attorney and former Republican attorney general nominee Matthew DePerno and former state Rep. Daire Rendon (R-Lake City) were also indicted.
The court had issued multiple orders for Lambert Junttila to have her fingerprints and a DNA sample taken, as is required by law. Matis noted the initial order requesting fingerprints and DNA sampling was issued on Aug. 4, 2023, with a deadline of Aug. 10, 2023.
Matis also noted this order said a refusal to submit to fingerprinting may subject the defendant to contempt or criminal charges.
Matis also read multiple emails between Maat and Lambert Junttila’s defense counsel saying she would have her fingerprints taken.
“Of course, it hasn’t been done. So with that said, today’s hearing was scheduled. I did order the defendant to be present. Candidly, if she had shown up with proof she had done it that would have been fine. But obviously she’s not present,” Matis said.
While the case was initially scheduled for 3 p.m., Matis did not call the case until after 4 p.m. Thursday.
“What I want to emphasize here is I have no doubt that defense counsel has been honest with us, but I don’t think she’s been honest with them. And everything that’s been communicated to us I now question,” Maat said, listing a number of excuses from Lambert Junttila as to why her fingerprints had not been taken.
Maat, who traveled three hours to the court in Oakland County, also requested that Lambert Junttila cover the travel costs for himself and a state police trooper who appeared as a witness and waited for her to appear. Matis granted the request.
Lambert Junttila’s attorney, Michael J. Smith, argued she was confused as to whether the show cause hearing would be held, but Matis rejected that argument before agreeing to issue a bench warrant.
At the time of publication, Lambert is scheduled for trial on April 1.
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by Kyle Davidson, Michigan Advance
March 8, 2024
by Kyle Davidson, Michigan Advance
March 8, 2024
Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Jeffery S. Matis issued a bench warrant for Attorney Stefanie Lambert Junttila, granting a request from the prosecution after she repeatedly failed to provide fingerprints and a DNA sample as required by law.
Lambert Junttila did not appear at the Thursday show cause hearing and will have 24 hours to turn herself in, with prosecutor Tim Maat requesting that the warrant not be executed until 5 p.m. Friday in line with a previous agreement he had made with Lambert Junttila, where she asked that Maat not send officers to her home to arrest her.
“One of the conversations I had with her, with her counsel present, was, ‘If the grand jury decides to indict, can you promise me you won’t send the police to my house and have me arrested?’ I said yes. She says, ‘I got kids. I don’t want them to see that.’ I said, ‘No problem; just let us work with your lawyer,’” Maat said.
Lambert Junttila is one of three individuals indicted as part of a probe into alleged tampering with voting tabulators following the 2020 election where President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump. Attorney and former Republican attorney general nominee Matthew DePerno and former state Rep. Daire Rendon (R-Lake City) were also indicted.
The court had issued multiple orders for Lambert Junttila to have her fingerprints and a DNA sample taken, as is required by law. Matis noted the initial order requesting fingerprints and DNA sampling was issued on Aug. 4, 2023, with a deadline of Aug. 10, 2023.
Matis also noted this order said a refusal to submit to fingerprinting may subject the defendant to contempt or criminal charges.
Matis also read multiple emails between Maat and Lambert Junttila’s defense counsel saying she would have her fingerprints taken.
“Of course, it hasn’t been done. So with that said, today’s hearing was scheduled. I did order the defendant to be present. Candidly, if she had shown up with proof she had done it that would have been fine. But obviously she’s not present,” Matis said.
While the case was initially scheduled for 3 p.m., Matis did not call the case until after 4 p.m. Thursday.
“What I want to emphasize here is I have no doubt that defense counsel has been honest with us, but I don’t think she’s been honest with them. And everything that’s been communicated to us I now question,” Maat said, listing a number of excuses from Lambert Junttila as to why her fingerprints had not been taken.
Maat, who traveled three hours to the court in Oakland County, also requested that Lambert Junttila cover the travel costs for himself and a state police trooper who appeared as a witness and waited for her to appear. Matis granted the request.
Lambert Junttila’s attorney, Michael J. Smith, argued she was confused as to whether the show cause hearing would be held, but Matis rejected that argument before agreeing to issue a bench warrant.
At the time of publication, Lambert is scheduled for trial on April 1.
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Kyle Davidson covers state government alongside health care, business and the environment. A graduate of Michigan State University, Kyle studied journalism and political science. He previously covered community events, breaking news, state policy and the environment for outlets including the Lansing State Journal, the Detroit Free Press and Capital News Service.
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