Judge to rule on request for dismissal of charges for 1 suspect in Thad McCotter fraud case

Paul Seewald fighting felony conspiracy charge

Turnbull, Yowchuang, O'Brady, Seewald

DETROIT – A man who worked for a Detroit-area congressman is asking that a felony charge against him that stemmed from a campaign scandal involving Thaddeus McCotter be dismissed.

McCotter's former district director Paul Seewald, 47, of Livonia, has already pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, falsely signing a nominating petition as a circulator.

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He has been fighting a felony conspiracy charge.

Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Margie Braxton will make a ruling on the dismissal Friday at 9 a.m.

READ: AG Office McCotter investigation report

READ: McCotter fraud examples

Turnbull, Yowchuang, O'Brady, Seewald

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The republican turned in 2,000 signatures on May 15, but a review found many of the signatures were duplicates and out of date.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