Politico published a report from Nessel’s office calling for the special counsel after her investigation into the alleged scheme found ties to Matthew DePerno, the presumptive Republican nominee for Michigan attorney general who is backed by former President Trump. “When this investigation was initiated, there was no conflict of interest,” the report states. “However, during the course of the investigation, evidence developed that DePerno was one of the main instigators of the conspiracy.” The Hill reached out to Nessel’s office and the Michigan District Attorney’s Coordinating Council, the group that received the report, for comment. The Nessel investigation began following a request in February by Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who said she received reports that at least one unnamed third party was able to “gain improper access” to voting machines in Richfield Township and county Roscommon. Reuters on Sunday first publicly disclosed DePerno’s alleged ties to the Nessel investigation, and Politico moments later reported on her office’s request for a special counsel. Reuters cited court documents alleging DePerno led a group that gained unauthorized access to voting machines in Richfield Township. In his report, Nessel’s office said the special counsel should review charges such as willfully damaging a voting machine and fraudulently accessing a computer system. Trump in September endorsed DePerno, who is a staunch supporter of the former president’s baseless allegations of voter fraud. Tyson Shepard, DePerno’s campaign manager, in a statement called Nessel’s actions “unethical.” Winners and losers from Democrats’ tax, health care and climate change bills Watchdog sounds alarm over Ukrainian nuclear plant bombing “Dana Nessel has a history of targeting and prosecuting her political enemies,” Shepard said. “At the same time he has refused to prosecute any crime involving Democrats, including the deaths caused by the COVID nursing home scandal,” he added. Republican state lawmakers are grilling the administration of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) over its executive order early in the pandemic that placed elderly people recovering from COVID in special isolation wards at nursing homes, arguing that the policy led to to more deaths.