Not guilty pleas entered for 3 ex-staffers in Michigan probe of former Rep. Thaddeus McCotter's petitions

Not guilty pleas have been entered on behalf of three ex-campaign staffers accused of forging or falsifying signatures on nominating petitions for former Michigan U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter.

McCotter's former deputy district director Don Yowchuang and district director Paul Seewald appeared in court in the Detroit suburb of Livonia on Friday for arraignment. Both are free on $50,000 personal bond. They're due back in court in September.

Yowchuang and Seewald left the courthouse without speaking to reporters.

--Don Yowchuang

“They cooperated fully when asked to give statement, they gave statements. They wanted documents, we gave them documents – not one, not twice but three times,” said defense attorney Timothy Dinan. “We provided them with everything they asked for and that started early in the process.”

Yowchuang and Seewald were charged Thursday along with district representative Mary Melissa Turnbull and staffer Lorianne O'Brady. Charges range from forgery and conspiracy to falsely signing election documents.

District representative Melissa Turnball was also arraigned and released Friday on bond in Troy district court.

O'Brady is expected to be arraigned next week.

READ: AG Office McCotter investigation report

READ: McCotter fraud examples