4 charged in Thaddeus McCotter petition investigation

Michigan's attorney general is bringing criminal charges against at four people following his investigation of fake and duplicate signatures on the nominating petitions submitted by then-U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter.

Bill Schuette announced charges Thursday during a news conference in Detroit. They range from forgery and conspiracy to falsely signing election documents.

Schuette said McCotter isn't charged because there isn't any specific, direct evidence of his involvement. But Schuette said McCotter didn't give his "crew" any guidance or supervision.

“This is a case of Thad McCotter being asleep at the switch," he said.

McCotter's office released the following statement just a few hours later:

"I thank the Attorney General and his office for their earnest, thorough work on this investigation, which I requested, and their subsequent report. (http://1.usa.gov/NMfEFP)

For my family and I, this closure commences our embrace of the enduring blessings of private life."

Mr. McCotter is not, at present, available for interviews at this stage of the legal process.

Charged are:

Don Dale Yowchuang – Deputy district director

10 counts of election law forgery, each a 5 year felony

1 count of conspiracy, a 5 year felony

6 counts of falsely signing a nominating petition as circulator, 93 day misdemeanor

Paul Seewald – District director

1 count of conspiracy, a 5-year felony

9 counts of falsely signing a nominating petition as circulator, 93 day misdemeanor 

Mary Turnball – District Representative

1 count of conspiracy, a 5 year felony

1 count of falsely signing a nominating petition as circulator, 93 day misdemeanor 

Loriannne O’Brady – former scheduler

5 counts of falsely signing a nominating petition as circulator, 93 day misdemeanor

Schuette said his office specially found that duplicate petition had been submitted and signatures had been cut and pasted from previous year.

READ: AG Office McCotter investigation report

READ: McCotter fraud examples

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The republican turned in 2,000 signatures on May 15, but a review found many of the signatures were duplicates and out of date.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

McCotter's slip paved the way for tea party-backed Kerry Bentivolio to win the GOP nomination in Tuesday's primary. He faces Democrat Syed Taj in the Nov. 6 election.