Macomb County Prosecutor Unleashes Tirade Against Brother's Opponent
An emotionally-charged election year has one Macomb County official unleashing a blue streak on the phone, and now, the state Attorney General is being asked to step in.
Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith left a profanity-laced phone message on the answering machine of Jim Perna, who is running against his brother Bob Smith for a county commission seat.
Eric Smith was apparently upset over a negative campaign mailer he claimed was sent by Perna, claiming the Smith family has long relied on government jobs rather than working in the private sector. Smith's father was a police chief.
"I'm glad you're a man of your word. You lying (bleep) ... come on, you want to take shots at my brother, he's running against you, that's fine. I think it's a weak move ... my mom and my dad, who's been dead for 10 years, you (bleep). I'm gonna bury you, and I hope you don't mind cause you just opened the door," Smith said.
Smith has since apologized for the call, saying he was calling as a son, not as the county prosecutor.
Perna says he had nothing to do with the campaign mailer, and has filed a complaint against Smith with the State Police.
The Macomb County Republican Party wants the state Attorney General to investigate what they call Smith's "erratic and possibly criminal behavior."
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