2/13/13 - A trial date has been set for an Iosco Township woman charged in a campaign scandal involving bogus petition signatures tied to a former Republican congressman. The only remaining member of former Congressman Thaddeus McCotterâs staff who faces criminal charges for her alleged role in the scandal is 58-year-old Mary Melissa Turnbull. She is charged with conspiracy to commit a legal act in an illegal manner and falsely signing a nominating petition as circulator. Turnbull appeared in Oakland County Circuit Court yesterday, where new dates were scheduled. A hearing will be held before Judge Leo Bowman on April 16th and if no plea deal is reached, her trial is slated to begin June 3rd. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuetteâs office is prosecuting the case and filed an appeal yesterday challenging the dismissal of felony conspiracy charges previously leveled against other former aides to McCotter, who were sentenced to probation and community service on other counts. The staff members were accused of a deliberate fraud pattern of copying and altering nominating petitions to qualify the five-term congressman for the 2012 ballot. McCotter didn't make the ballot and quit Congress last July after nearly 10 years rather than finish his term. (JM)
↧