Hamtramck City Clerk Rana Faraj has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Amer Ghalib, six council members, and City Manager Alex LaGrou, accusing them of retaliating against her for reporting ballot harvesting, voter intimidation, and residency fraud during the 2025 election cycle.
Filed Friday in Wayne County Circuit Court, the complaint alleges Faraj was “unlawfully retaliated against and constructively discharged” after she notified state and county officials of irregularities involving candidates and their supporters. The lawsuit was filed by Marko Law, the same firm representing two other Hamtramck whistleblowers in a separate case.
Faraj, who has served as clerk for more than four years, says she reported ballot harvesting and interference with election administration to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on March 12. Her complaint to the state came before criminal charges were filed against two men, including a sitting councilmember, for alleged absentee-ballot crimes, according to the lawsuit. Faraj later testified against the councilmember in court, and the lawsuit notes that “several other witnesses scheduled to testify had their windows broken out the night before the exam.”
The lawsuit argues that Faraj spent months documenting suspicious activity, including surveillance footage showing individuals depositing “large bundles” of absentee ballots into drop boxes and returning on multiple days. It also alleges she collected evidence that at least two candidates did not live in Hamtramck but remained on the ballot anyway.
Instead of addressing the alleged misconduct, Faraj says, city leaders “kept an eye” on her, monitored her arrival and departure times, and openly discussed “trying to find something to hold against her” after they learned she had contacted the Attorney General’s Office. One council member told her that colleagues believed she had “authored the AG letter,” according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit also centers on the discovery of 37 valid absentee ballots that were never counted in a mayoral race decided by fewer than a dozen votes.
On election night on Nov. 4, workers in Absent Voter Precinct 2 reported a discrepancy between the number of ballots issued and the number tabulated. Faraj says she immediately notified Wayne County and followed state guidance.
Two days later, during routine records work, staff found 37 signed ballot envelopes, which still contained ballots, that had been mistakenly mixed with emptied envelopes. Faraj’s office photographed and documented the discovery, notified Wayne County, and delivered the ballots within 30 minutes with a police escort.
But the lawsuit alleges that city officials had already broken the chain of custody. Five non-election staff, including the interim city manager, the city assessor, and a maintenance employee, entered the clerk’s office after hours on Nov. 5 and early Nov. 6. They were not sworn election workers, and they were not authorized to access the 37 ballots, which could no longer be counted under state law
Faraj testified about the discovery before the Wayne County Board of Canvassers on Nov. 13. The board later deadlocked along party lines, leaving the ballots uncounted.
Within days, Faraj was placed on paid administrative leave and publicly accused of “election meddling” and “election interference.” She says the accusations were false and part of a coordinated effort to blame her for issues she had repeatedly warned about.
The lawsuit alleges that leaks from city officials led to “misleading” media reports that portrayed Faraj as under investigation, despite the city telling her the leave was not disciplinary. She says Hamtramck refused to correct the public narrative.
The complaint calls the leave a “constructive discharge,” arguing the city stripped her of the ability to perform her elected duties while pushing a false version of events.
“Rana did what every city clerk is supposed to do, she followed the law and told the truth, and Hamtramck tried to run her out of the job for it,” attorney Jonathan Marko said. “This is not the first time city leadership has gone after someone for speaking up, and at some point it stops being a mistake and starts being a pattern.”
Attorney Reno Arabo, of Marko Law, added that the lawsuit is intended to hold officials accountable for retaliating against a whistleblower.
“Hamtramck is once again sending a dangerous message that if you expose misconduct, the city will come after you, not the wrongdoing,” Arabo said. “This lawsuit is about making clear that retaliating against an election official for enforcing Michigan election law will have serious consequences.”
The lawsuit alleges wrongful discharge, violations of the Michigan Whistleblowers’ Protection Act, civil conspiracy, defamation, due-process violations, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Faraj is seeking reinstatement, damages, and court orders requiring the city to stop retaliating against her and correct the public record.
The complaint comes as Hamtramck faces increasing legal scrutiny and a county, state, and federal investigation. The FBI confirmed earlier this year that agents were conducting “law enforcement activities” in the city. The Michigan State Police and Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office are separately investigating alleged absentee-ballot fraud and questions about whether sitting council members actually live in the city.
Marko Law is also representing Hamtramck City Manager Max Garbarino and Officer David Adamczyk in a federal whistleblower lawsuit alleging city leaders, including Ghalib and Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri, engaged in corruption, retaliation, and election interference.
Hamtramck officials did not immediately respond to Metro Times’s requests for comment. They have dodged questions since the allegations first surfaced earlier this year.