Politics & Government
Prosecutor to Decide on Results of Macomb Twp. Election Fraud Investigation
Michigan State Police have completed an election fraud investigation and submitted their findings to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, which will determine if any charges are to be filed against township officials.
The fate of Macomb Township's lone supervisor candidate now rests in the hands of the Macomb County prosecutor, following the completion of a Michigan State Police investigation into allegations of election fraud.
State police confirmed to The Macomb Daily Friday that detectives have completed their investigation and submitted their findings to the prosecutor's office.
The prosecutor's office has yet to comment on whether it will dismiss or pursue a case regarding these allegations.
Find out what's happening in Macomb Townshipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
At the center of these allegations is supervisor candidate Janet Dunn, who defeated incumbent Supervisor Mark Grabow and challenger Charles Missig in the August Republican primary. As there are no Democrats running for the seat in November, Dunn, who currently serves as a township trustee, is expected to take office Nov. 20.
While the source of the complaint that led MSP to pursue its investigation is unknown, this is not the first time allegations of election fraud have been brought against township officials this election season.
Find out what's happening in Macomb Townshipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In July, Macomb Township resident Mark Maiuri filed a lawsuit against the county and Macomb Township clerks that challenged the validity of more than 50 signatures on Dunn's nominating petitions and alleged wrongful denial of a Freedom of Information Act request.
Maiuri claimed he had uncovered "extensive fraud" by means of his own investigation as well as from official handwriting analysis of Dunn's nominating petitions—analysis which was commissioned by John Johnson, a member of then-clerk candidate Cathy Imbronone's campaign staff.
Less than 48 hours after polls closed for the Aug. 7 primary, Maiuri asked the court to dismiss his case.
The Macomb County Circuit Court denied this request as Macomb Township had already filed a counter complaint to defend Clerk Michael Koehs in his offical capacity, according to court documents.
Speaking to the original allegations brought in the lawsuit, Macomb Township attorney Albert Addis told Patch in August, “My clients can’t find any evidence, nor has anyone demonstrated any evidence of fraud."
Dunn has met with police detectives and is cooperating fully with the case.
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