McCotter aide sentenced to jail or work program in investigation of bogus campaign petitions

A woman who worked for a Detroit-area congressman must serve 20 days in jail or spend that time in a work program for her role in a campaign scandal that kept Thaddeus McCotter off the ballot.

Lorianne O'Brady was a scheduler in McCotter's district office. She pleaded no contest last month to falsely stating that she had collected signatures to get McCotter on the ballot when she didn't actually circulate the petitions.

O'Brady was sentenced Thursday by a Livonia judge. She also faces 12 days in jail if she doesn't pay $2,625 in fines and court costs.

Three other former McCotter aides face felony charges in the petition probe.

READ: AG Office McCotter investigation report

READ: McCotter fraud examples

--Former McCotter staffers who are charged

McCotter resigns following signature snafu

The republican turned in 2,000 signatures on May 15, but a review found many of the signatures were duplicates and out of date. Only a couple hundred appeared valid.

He needed 1,000.

After he was told he wouldn't make the August primary ballot because of the failed requirement, McCotter had initially said he would run as a write-in candidate. But he announced his resignation in July.

The Republican from Livonia had served five terms in the 11th Congressional District.