Schuette Talked Politics With Staff During Work Hours, Offered Financial Incentives
LANSING (AP) — Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette scheduled a meeting with state employees to discuss presidential politics during work hours and later sent follow-up emails dangling financial incentives to those who secured endorsements for Jeb Bush.
The emails were first uncovered by the Detroit Free Press Tuesday and later obtained by The Associated Press. Schuette is seeking the Republican nomination for governor in next week's primary.
The emails — which went to personal, not state accounts — are from 2015, when Schuette endorsed Bush for president. In two, which Schuette sent outside normal work hours, he enticed state staffers with gift certificates for landing the most endorsements.
Gubernatorial rival Brian Calley says Schuette is in "serious legal jeopardy" and his nomination would put Republicans at risk up and down the ballot.
A Schuette spokeswoman says he used his personal email and time to offer opportunities to assist with the presidential election, and the employees were expected to take time off or use their lunch hour when participating in activities unrelated to their state job.
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