McCotter Staffers Arraigned In Petition Signature Scandal
LANSING (WWJ) - A third ex-campaign staffer of former Michigan Congressman Thaddeus McCotter has been arraigned on charges tied to phony petition signatures.
Mary Turnbull turned herself in to police in Troy. In Livonia, Don Yowchuang and Paul Seewald were arraigned Friday morning as well. All three are out on bond.
A fourth person, Lorianne O'Brady, was expected to be arraigned next week.
In announcing the charges on Thursday, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette called the falsified petitions a "cut and paste job that would make a fourth grade art teacher cringe."
Schuette said there was no specific, direct evidence of McCotter's involvement, but said he was "asleep at the switch," as he failed to supervise his staff.
"As a result, the McCotter crew acted as if they were above the law, that the law did not apply to them. They are sadly mistaken. Election fraud will not be tolerated and this brazen attitude of indifference by public servants is disgraceful," said Schuette.
Schuette wouldn't rule out more charges in the future if evidence is found.
McCotter, a five-term Republican, turned in just 244 valid signatures out of 1,800 submitted in May.
The scandal led to McCotter's resignation last month.
