Fake Tea Party Forgery

[Patrick Banks]

From the MI GOP:

Forgery on Steffek Fake Tea Party Documents

October 20, 2010

Further Evidence of Deceptive Tactic and Alleged Fraud Builds Against Benson Supporters and Former Staffer

Lansing, MI — U.S. Congresswoman Candice Miller (MI-10) and Michigan Republican Party General Counsel Eric Doster released a report Wednesday from Speckin Forensic Laboratories providing further proof that at least some of the signatures by the Steffek fake tea party were forgeries “to a high degree of probability.” MRP calls on Jocelyn Benson to disclose what she knows about the Steffek fake tea party and her former employee’s involvement with it.

“As someone who had the honor to serve the people of Michigan for eight years as Secretary of State I understand well that one of the primary Constitutional responsibilities of the Secretary is to guarantee to the people of Michigan the integrity of our elections system,” said Congresswoman Miller. “The fact that someone running to be Michigan’s Chief Elections Officer would employ people who would participate in practices designed only to deceive and defraud Michigan voters is very troubling.

“This report provides further proof of something we all suspected—deceptive practices were used in the Steffek fake tea party scandal. Voters deserve to know what Professor Benson knew about or if she approved of the actions of her supporters and former staffer,” Miller said.

The Michigan Republican Party hired Speckin Forensic Laboratories after Oakland County Clerk Ruth Johnson uncovered suspected forgery in August and a “supposed” candidate who did not even know they were a candidate and currently lives out of state.

“When Ruth Johnson’s office said they suspected forged signatures, the Michigan Republican Party chose to investigate this further in an effort to ensure the people of Michigan were protected from any type of fraudulent activities by the Steffek fake tea party,” said Eric Doster. “This evidence provides further proof that the Steffek fake tea party was clearly a fraud against Michigan voters. It is saddening the depths these individuals would go to confuse Michigan voters.

An extensive article appeared in the Detroit Free Press in September revealing connections between Benson’s former Director of Operations Mike McGuinness, supporter Jason Bauer, the Steffek fake tea party and the Benson campaign.

According to the Detroit Free Press¹:

• McGuinness worked directly for the Benson campaign in 2010.

• McGuinness recruited his stepmother to run as a candidate for state representative for the Steffek fake tea party.

• McGuinness resigned as chairman of the Oakland County Democratic Party in August 2010 shortly after he was named as a suspect involved with the Steffek fake tea party scandal.

• Bauer is under criminal investigation by the Oakland County Sheriff.

• Bauer notarized 12 of the 23 affidavits for Steffek fake tea party candidate petitions.

Both McGuinness and Bauer have given Benson campaign donations.²

“Try as she might to distance herself, Jocelyn Benson is linked to this fraud perpetrated against Michigan voters,” Miller said. “So much for her claim to disavow ‘shadowy’ organizations.”

During the Secretary of State debate,³ Jocelyn Benson said, “Well I believe we need to put an end to shadowy organizations that seek to defraud or confuse our citizens about their rights.”

“The Secretary of State is responsible for enormous amounts of Michigan citizens’ most important and sensitive information,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, a former FBI agent who investigated organized crime and public corruption and fraud for the Chicago Bureau office. “We have a right to expect the highest integrity and commitment to the truth from the person holding one of the highest offices in our state. Boastful words from Jocelyn Benson do little to give Michigan families a sense of confidence that their valuable information will be handled with discretion and professionalism, and their voting system protected from fraud. That is why Ruth Johnson’s experience in protecting the documents and information of the people she serves inspires the confidence we should have in our Secretary of State and all of our top state leaders.”

Miller added, “The fact of the matter is that if Ruth Johnson had not exposed the fraud in the fake Tea Party, this fraud against the people of Michigan may well have gone forward and tainted the coming election. If Benson would bring such suspect individuals into her campaign it makes one wonder just who she would put in place to protect the integrity of our elections.

“Jocelyn Benson must explain better to Michigan voters why her connections to the prime suspects in one of the biggest election fraud scandals in recent Michigan history should not give Michigan voters serious concerns about her ability to protect the integrity of our elections. This is essential if Benson, with so little experience in Michigan, wants to be the chief elections officer in Michigan,” Miller said.

[1] Wisely, John; Bell, Dawson; and Gray, Kathleen. Detroit Free Press, “Michigan Tea Party has some Democratic ties.” 3 September 2010.

[2] Jocelyn Benson For Secretary of State Amended Post-Convention CS(e) 29 September 2010.

[3] Jocelyn Benson, Off the Record Secretary of State Debate, 8 October 2010

[Scott Arnett]

Nice!!! Can you say "George Soros?"