Thu Aug 9, 2012, 11:59 AM

maddezmom (130,849 posts)

Campaign staffers charged in Mich. probe of fake petition signatures for former Rep. McCotter

Source: AP

DETROIT — Michigan’s attorney general has charged four of former U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter’s campaign staffers in an investigation into fake and duplicate signatures on nominating petitions.

Attorney General Bill Schuette announced charges Thursday ranging from forgery and conspiracy to falsely signing election documents.

McCotter isn’t charged. Schuette says there’s no direct evidence of McCotter’s involvement but he says the congressman was “asleep at the switch.” Schuette wouldn’t rule out more charges in the future.

The petition scandal knocked the congressman off the ballot and led to his resignation July 6.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress/campaign-staff-charged-in-mccotter-petitions-probe/2012/08/09/077cd380-e23a-11e1-89f7-76e23a982d06_story.html

7 replies, 1279 views

Reply to this thread

Always highlight: 10 newest replies | Replies posted after I mark a forum

Replies to this discussion thread

7 replies	Author	Time	Post
Campaign staffers charged in Mich. probe of fake petition signatures for former Rep. McCotter (Original post)	maddezmom	Aug 2012	OP
This is just typical	gopiscrap	Aug 2012	#1
Well, yeah, because McCotter is a Republican...	rfranklin	Aug 2012	#2
To be fair, McCotter was very preoccupied with his presidential run during that time period.	tanyev	Aug 2012	#3
Current memes: McCotter "resigned in disgrace" and "Asleep at the switch"	Festivito	Aug 2012	#4
That seat is now in play.	Bozita	Aug 2012	#5
An northeast India-born doctor who attends mosque.	Festivito	Aug 2012	#6
Ah, the old "It was those darned staffers!" gambit	Canuckistanian	Aug 2012	#7

Response to maddezmom (Original post)

Thu Aug 9, 2012, 12:48 PM

gopiscrap (2,527 posts)

1. This is just typical

the fucking republicans charge the Dems with electoral fraud...figures, they are engaged in it knee deep!!!!

Reply to this post

Response to gopiscrap (Reply #1)

Thu Aug 9, 2012, 01:06 PM

rfranklin (13,200 posts)

2. Well, yeah, because McCotter is a Republican...

I looked it up...

Four staffers of former U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter, R-Livonia were charged today in connection with the false nominating petitions that led to McCotter's departure from Congress.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette described the four as "not simply Keystone Kops running amok ... criminal acts were committed."
http://www.freep.com/article/20120809/NEWS15/120809030/State-charges-4-McCotter-ex-staffers-forging-petitions-faking-signatures-election-fiasco?odyssey=nav%7Chead

Reply to this post

Response to maddezmom (Original post)

Thu Aug 9, 2012, 05:37 PM

tanyev (22,103 posts)

3. To be fair, McCotter was very preoccupied with his presidential run during that time period.

http://www.4president.us/websites/2012/mccotter070211website.htm

Reply to this post

Response to maddezmom (Original post)

Fri Aug 10, 2012, 03:17 AM

Festivito (12,283 posts)

4. Current memes: McCotter "resigned in disgrace" and "Asleep at the switch"

I'm thinking that's a: he's gone through enough defense.

His area was just gerrymandered by Republicans just for him.

110 out of 130 petitions falsified (Those numbers are not correct, but it is a majority of the petitions)
Needed 1000 names, turned in 2000, 80% falsified

Cut and pasted from prior year petitions
Not sure if pages were duplicated with same names in same petitions, or if all were unique names, but from other petitions.
Duplications occurred on McCotter's offices Federal office copier in Livonia, MI.
Felonies charged.

McCotter’s former deputy district director Don Yowchuang (17 charges), district director Paul Seewald (10 charges), district representative Mary Melissa Turnbull (2 charges) and staffer Lorianne O’Brady (5 counts) face charges ranging from forgery and conspiracy to falsely signing election documents.

Interesting race coming up.

Reply to this post

Response to Festivito (Reply #4)

Fri Aug 10, 2012, 03:29 AM

Bozita (26,949 posts)

5. That seat is now in play.

Last edited Fri Aug 10, 2012, 03:32 AM USA/ET - Edit history (2)

The Dem is an MD, head of a major regional hospital, Muslim, and not nuts.

This is gonna be one of the most watched races as election day nears.

Reply to this post

Response to Bozita (Reply #5)

Fri Aug 10, 2012, 09:16 AM

Festivito (12,283 posts)

6. An northeast India-born doctor who attends mosque.

There's a good chance here.

The results of this race will be as interesting as the race itself.

Reply to this post

Response to maddezmom (Original post)

Fri Aug 10, 2012, 10:12 PM

Canuckistanian (42,204 posts)

7. Ah, the old "It was those darned staffers!" gambit

Staffers do what they're told. That's why they're called "staffers", not "campaign directors" or "strategists".

I wonder how much it cost to buy their silence? Probably not enough. They'll be singing in front of a judge.

Reply to this post

Latest Breaking News (Forum)