Hamtramck Election Fraud Scandal: Two City Council Members Charged
The tiny city of Hamtramck, Michigan, already known for its turbulent local politics, is now at the center of a high-stakes election fraud scandal. Two sitting council members, Mohammed Hassan, 57, and Muhtasin Sadman, 26, have been charged in connection with a scheme to manipulate absentee ballots during the city’s 2023 council elections.
The Charges
The investigation began in April, when Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office uncovered evidence suggesting that multiple council members were part of a conspiracy to obtain absentee ballots illegally. State prosecutors allege that six individuals worked together to secure blank absentee ballots signed by newly naturalized citizens, which were then allegedly filled out with votes for their preferred candidates. The case was referred to a special prosecutor, Monroe County Prosecutor Jeffery Yorkey, who filed formal charges on Monday. Hassan now faces charges of election law forgery, forging a signature on an absentee ballot application, providing false statements on an absentee ballot application, and two counts of unqualified elector attempting to vote. Sadman is charged with election law forgery, forging a signature on an absentee ballot application, and providing false statements on an absentee ballot application.
Fallout and Reaction
“It’s kind of a relief that these concerns are being addressed,” said former council candidate Lynn Blasey, who finished fourth in the 2023 race. Blasey said she chose not to run again because she doubted whether the process would ever be fair. “I think it would be fair to forfeit their seats on council and not be allowed to serve in public office again, or even run,” she added.
The charges come after months of dysfunction inside Hamtramck’s city government. Council infighting, suspensions, and lawsuits have piled up, painting a picture of a local government in disarray. Earlier this year, City Manager Max Garbarino and the city’s special investigator filed a lawsuit against members of the council, alleging corruption, retaliation, and violations of the Michigan Whistleblower Protection Act and the Open Meetings Act. That lawsuit claimed that irregularities in absentee ballots were first flagged by the city clerk in late 2023. When Garbarino advised the clerk to report the findings to police, city leaders allegedly attempted to retaliate, pressuring Garbarino to fire the clerk and suppress the investigation.
The Political Angle
While the scandal is rocking Hamtramck, it is not directly tied to partisan politics. Mohammed Hassan has previously run for office as a Democrat, including an unsuccessful bid for Wayne County Commission in 2024. Sadman’s political affiliation is not publicly documented. The charges brought against them are criminal, not partisan, and cut directly to the heart of election integrity at the local level.
Bigger Picture
Hamtramck’s saga underscores the fragile state of small-city politics where power is concentrated, oversight is thin, and corruption can spread quickly. This scandal isn’t about national politics, it’s about a city council so fractured that accusations of ballot tampering, harassment, and retaliation are now playing out in criminal court. For Hamtramck residents, the charges confirm their worst fears: that democracy in their city has been compromised from within.
