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LANSING (AP) -- A Michigan Republican known for challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election has turned his attention to those who fact-check the claims of public officials.
State Rep. Matt Maddock this week introduced the "Fact Checker Registration Act," which would force journalists and others who perform fact checks to register with the state and insure themselves with a $1 million fidelity bond. His legislation also would fine fact checkers $1,000 every day they don't register.
The proposal, which critics argue would violate First Amendment protections for the press and free speech, appears unlikely to be a priority, even in a legislature controlled by his fellow Republicans.
"This is a clearly unconstitutional prior restraint on free speech," said Len Niehoff, a professor at the University of Michigan Law School. "No responsible legislature would pass such a law, and no competent judge would uphold it."
The proposal came after social media posts in which Maddock questioned the identity of those who check facts online.
He said Wednesday that his bill would apply only to paid members of the International Fact-Checking Network, a group of media organizations that adhere to fact-checking standards established at the Florida-based Poynter Institute, a journalism training organization. It was not immediately clear what he meant by targeting paid members of the group. The Associated Press is a member of the network but is not paid by it.
"If you're a paid fact checker and you're out there destroying people and businesses, then you need to be 100% accurate," he said. "I say put your money where your mouth is."