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.
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