Michigan judge: Pro-Trump lawyer facing charges needs to 'turn herself in' – Detroit News
Pontiac — An Oakland County judge said Wednesday that Stefanie Lambert, a lawyer who’s facing charges over an alleged scheme to access voting machines in Michigan, needs to “turn herself in” on a bench warrant before her case can proceed.
Judge Jeffery Matis made the comments six days after he issued a warrant for Lambert because she failed to appear for an in-person hearing in Oakland County Circuit Court.
On Wednesday, there was another hearing in Lambert’s case. Her new attorney, Dan Hartman, appeared over Zoom, but Lambert didn’t attend in person or virtually.
Hartman, who previously served as general counsel for former Michigan Republican Party Chairwoman Kristina Karamo, said Lambert didn’t have to participate Wednesday. But Matis rejected a request from Hartman to recall the warrant.
“That bench warrant just needs to be satisfied through either turning herself in or she’ll be picked up,” Matis said.
“She needs to comply with that warrant, turn herself in on the warrant,” Matis said at another point.
It wasn’t immediately clear why Lambert hadn’t complied with the warrant, which was issued six days ago.
Matis said her criminal case is essentially “administratively closed” until she turns herself in.
Lambert of South Lyon has previously worked on election-related litigation in the battleground states of Michigan, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Her efforts have gained the backing of prominent donors who support former President Donald Trump.
In Michigan, Lambert was one of nine lawyers involved in a past lawsuit that unsuccessfully attempted to reverse Michigan’s 2020 presidential election, in which Democrat Joe Biden defeated Trump.
In August, Special Prosecutor D.J. Hilson revealed four felony charges against her, including undue possession of a voting machine. Lambert and others who were spreading theories of fraud about the 2020 election allegedly conspired to obtain and analyze five tabulators that were used in Michigan.
Lambert has resisted getting fingerprinted by authorities as her criminal case is ongoing. In a court filing on Friday, Lambert contended that Hilson wants to use her fingerprints to compare with evidence on the tabulators.
Last week, Matis intended to hold a court hearing on why Lambert hadn’t been fingerprinted despite orders that it happen. But Lambert didn’t attend the hearing, leading to the bench warrant.
Hartman argued on Wednesday that there were “communication issues,” involving Lambert and her former lawyer Michael J. Smith about last week’s hearing, causing her to not show up. Smith withdrew as Lambert’s lawyer soon after the bench warrant was issued.
Hartman requested that Matis hold a new hearing about what occurred and recall the bench warrant in the meantime. But Matis rejected that idea, noting that he waited about an hour last week for Lambert to appear.
Matis said he would be in court all day on Thursday handling criminal matters. If Lambert turned herself in on Thursday, Matis could oversee her arraignment, the judge said.
“If she turns herself in, it will be processed as efficiently and expeditiously as possible,” Matis said.
cmauger@detroitnews.com