A surveillance video appears to show Hamtramck councilman Abu Musa handing stacks of absentee ballots. A driver then drops three bundles into the city drop box at night.
The footage was recorded on August 1, days before the August 5 primary. Michigan State Police confirmed the clip is part of an active investigation.
City results show Musa won the August 5 primary with 1,129 votes. Of those, 843 were absentee returns and 286 were cast in person.
Hamtramck City Clerk Rana Faraj said officials had noticed odd absentee patterns. She warned ballots should be handled by voters or close family only.
The video arrived amid a broader inquiry that began after the 2023 council race. Two council members were charged recently over alleged forgery of absentee ballots.
Attorney General Dana Nessel asked for a special prosecutor to avoid claims of bias. Her office said the move would protect the integrity of the probe.
Monroe County Prosecutor Jeffery Yorkey later took the investigation and filed charges. He said multiple law enforcement agencies had shared their findings with his office.
Video reviewers say Musa was seen in the passenger seat passing documents to a driver. Investigators are checking whether the pages were unvoted absentee ballots before they were returned.
Michigan law allows family members to return balloted envelopes in some cases. Officials say bundled submissions and similar handwriting raised alarm among clerks.
Hamtramck has about 28,000 residents and a long record of demographic change. It became known for electing a Muslim-majority council in 2022, a national first.
Mayor Amer Ghalib publicly endorsed Donald Trump in 2024, a move that drew notice. Ghalib was later nominated as ambassador to Kuwait by the White House.
Michigan certified its 2024 results and awarded the state to Donald Trump. Close statewide margins make local contests and absentee votes more politically sensitive.
Experts say local irregularities rarely flip statewide races, but they can matter locally. Tight statewide margins increase scrutiny of votes and ballot handling in small cities.
Some residents told reporters they feared the video would erode trust in elections. Others urged a calm, fair process and warned against quick judgments.
If prosecutors prove illegal conduct, courts could void results for affected seats. A judge might order a recount or disqualify ballots tied to misconduct.
Investigators will review camera logs, chain of custody and witness statements. They may try to trace the ballots to voter records where law allows.
Musa has denied wrongdoing in local interviews and says he followed the law. He has not been charged and is cooperating with investigators, his spokesperson said.
Two council members face felony counts alleging they paid for and filled in ballots. Prosecutors say the case involves blank ballots given to newly naturalized voters.
Attorney General Nessel recused her office from the case, citing perception issues. The transfer aimed to avoid claims that prosecutions were influenced by prior actions.
Local leaders and voting groups called for clearer rules on ballot returns and drop boxes. They want stronger oversight to prevent any appearance of improper handling.
The episode has drawn partisan claims online, with some seeing bias in enforcement. Others warned against using the material as a political cudgel before the facts are clear.
Monroe County will review evidence and decide whether to bring more charges. Officials said they will release public updates when appropriate and allowed by law.
For now, Hamtramck residents and officials await the outcome of the probe. They said they want clarity, fair legal review and safeguards for future votes.
