LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office sent a reply to a Michigan state senator and attempted to clarify the legal status of a man who allegedly crashed into and killed a mother and daughter in Shelby Township earlier this month.

The original letter from State Senator Joe Bellino (R-Monroe) questioned Benson about the legal status of Jose Medina-Hernandez and if he had obtained a valid Michigan commercial driver’s license. Michael Brady, the chief legal director for Benson’s office, responded to Bellino and said Medina-Hernandez is an “asylum seeker” and “produced proof legal presence in the U.S.” before obtaining a valid Michigan chauffeur’s license.

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Michigan News Source reached out to Sen. Bellino for a comment but he did not respond by press time.

Medina-Hernandez faces two misdemeanor counts of a moving violation causing death and has been arraigned. The penalty is up to one year in jail and a judge set Medina-Hernandez’s bond at $250,000.