11/1/12 - A judge has refused to drop a conspiracy charge and ordered a Livingston County woman who served as an aide to a Detroit-area congressman to stand trial in a campaign scandal. Mary Turnbull of Iosco Township worked for former Congressman Thaddeus McCotter. The Livonia Republican didn't make the 2012 ballot after a staff member submitted bogus petition signatures. The 58-year-old Turnbull is charged with conspiracy and a Troy Judge determined on Thursday that there was enough evidence to bind the case over to Oakland County Circuit Court. Authorities say Turnbull asked Doug Bauss to sign his name as a petition circulator, although she actually collected the names. Bauss previously testified Turnbull told him she couldnât be listed as the circulator because her Iosco Township address was outside of McCotterâs district. McCotter's district director and deputy director face conspiracy charges in Wayne County. A fourth staffer pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor. McCotter has not been charged and didn't know about the petition problems, but was forced to resign from Congress in July. (JM)
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