Three Stories . . . Three Minutes . . . 11.12.25
- Nov 12, 2025
- 3 min read
Cleta Mitchell, pardons, and Arctic Frost 2. Jenny Beth Martin, impeachment, and Arctic Frost 3. No matter how badly she screws up, Benson just won't listen
By Kristine Christlieb, MFEI News & Commentary Editor
November 12, 2025
[Editor’s Note: On March 22, 2022, the FBI Washington Field Office’s Assistant Special Agent in Charge Timothy Thibault made the case for an investigation he codenamed “Arctic Frost,” a reference to a mandarin orange variety and a jab at President Trump whose detractors sometimes refer to him as “Orange Man.” The investigation was eventually turned over to Jack Smith in November 2022. He subpoenaed records targeting more than 400 Republican individuals and entities, including nine U.S. lawmakers. On October 28, Kash Patel released more than 200 pages of formerly classified FBI documents related to Arctic Frost. On November 7, President Trump pardoned 77 individuals who were targeted in the investigation. A master list of all the people and organizations Jack Smith subpoenaed can be found here.]
1. Cleta Mitchell, pardons, and Arctic Frost
"I do NOT want to hear ONE MORE WORD from these creeps and their sycophants in the leftwing media about Donald Trump being authoritarian," Cleta Mitchell posted on X. She was responding to Kash Patel's release of classified documents related to the Arctic Frost investigation of Trump allies — their financial records, political donations, organization memberships, and other information.
Former Trump attorney and founder of the Election Integrity Network, Mitchell was among those investigated. They subpoenaed her credit report.
Mitchell was fired up. On November 3, The Federalist published her article, "Presidential Pardons Are Needed For Trump Electors Persecuted By Biden DOJ." Less than a week later, President Trump did precisely that. On November 7, 77 people were pardoned, including 15 alternate electors from Michigan.
Mitchell will be talking about Arctic Frost tomorrow on News@Noon. Register HERE.
2. Jenny Beth Martin, impeachment, and Arctic Frost
Cleta Mitchell isn't the only one fired up (see above). Jenny Beth Martin and the Tea Party Patriots are calling for the impeachment of U.S. District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg.
Boasberg authorized the secret FBI subpoenas and invasive surveillance tactics that allowed the Biden administration to spy on its political enemies. Martin called Boasberg's actions an "alarming abuse of judicial power and a violation of constitutional protections."
Martin's organization is urging its constituents to contact their representatives in Congress and demand Judge Boasberg be impeached.
3. No matter how badly she screws up, Benson just won't listen
When mainstream media outlets such as Bridge Michigan are complaining about Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, you know she's in trouble.
Through a records request, Bridge Michigan has learned more about the problems plaguing the Michigan Transparency Network — the portal built to manage campaign finance data. Bridge Michigan describes the Michigan Transparency Network as "an integrated system for campaign finance, lobbying and personal financial disclosures — providing the public a view into key ethics filings by candidates and their elected officials. " Benson was in charge of building and launching the portal.
After months of delays, the network finally came online in March 2024 but was riddled with bugs and errors. Legislators were so frustrated, they included a provision in the 2026 state budget requiring Benson’s department to transfer all its IT systems to the Department of Technology, Management and Budget.
Naturally, Benson has refused to comply. The legislative directive didn't motivate her. Nothing has changed. In fact, Bridge Michigan reports, Department of State spokesperson Angela Benander "believes the language [of the directive] instead 'codifies our existing practices and policies.'"
It appears the only way to compel Michigan's Secretary of State is through the courts.
Comments