Michigan’s former Attorney General said Thursday that U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter “doesn’t care about Congress anymore.”
Mike Cox, who said he once assisted McCotter by going door to door in McCotter’s campaign for state Senate, was contacted by the Observer for his thoughts on the investigation by state Attorney General Bill Schuette into petitions which contained duplicate signatures and photocopied petitions that were turned in by McCotter’s campaign workers.
The petitions were turned in on May 15, the deadline for candidates to declare their candidacies for U.S. Congress.
Schuette began an investigation after his office was notified by Secretary of State Ruth Johnson’s office of the duplicate signatures and photocopies.
“We will follow the facts, without fear or favor,” said Schuette in a prepared statement. “It’s our duty to maintain the integrity of our election process. We will conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation. If evidence of criminal violations is uncovered, we will not hesitate to prosecute.”
A formal review by the Bureau of Elections revealed various discrepancies in the petition filing, including duplicate signatures and the appearance of altered petitions.
The onetime GOP policy chairman had previously promised to run for reelection with a write-in campaign. But he was considered to be an outside contender when, before the controversy, he would have been a certainty to regain his seat.
Kerry Bentivolio, a teacher and Vietnam War veteran, will run in the Aug. 7 primary against former GOP state Sen. Loren Bennett, who announced Friday he will run as a write-in candidate.
The congressman was subject to widespread sniping about how he failed to gather the signatures.
A flamboyant figure and avid Tweeter known for his guitar playing and love of rock music — and who is generally well regarded on Capitol Hill for his genial disposition — McCotter surprised many when he announced his run for the Republican presidential nomination in June 2011. His presidential bid lasted about six weeks.
On Thursday, former GOP state Attorney General Mike Cox told reporter Ken Abramczyk of the "Observer and Eccentric," a unit of Gannett Co. “It’s clear that he doesn’t care about Congress anymore. It’s clear that he isn’t engaged anymore.”
McCotter added in his statement: “One can’t clean up a mess multitasking. Honoring my promise to the sovereign people of our community only allows me to finish the official duties of my present congressional term; and aid the state attorney general criminal investigation that I requested into identifying the person or persons who concocted the fraudulent petitions that have cost me so dearly,” he said.
“Honoring this promise does not allow me to continue a political write-in campaign. This decision is final, regardless of how swiftly the investigation is concluded.”
Mike Cox, who said he once assisted McCotter by going door to door in McCotter’s campaign for state Senate, was contacted by the Observer for his thoughts on the investigation by state Attorney General Bill Schuette into petitions which contained duplicate signatures and photocopied petitions that were turned in by McCotter’s campaign workers.
The petitions were turned in on May 15, the deadline for candidates to declare their candidacies for U.S. Congress.
Schuette began an investigation after his office was notified by Secretary of State Ruth Johnson’s office of the duplicate signatures and photocopies.
“We will follow the facts, without fear or favor,” said Schuette in a prepared statement. “It’s our duty to maintain the integrity of our election process. We will conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation. If evidence of criminal violations is uncovered, we will not hesitate to prosecute.”
A formal review by the Bureau of Elections revealed various discrepancies in the petition filing, including duplicate signatures and the appearance of altered petitions.
The onetime GOP policy chairman had previously promised to run for reelection with a write-in campaign. But he was considered to be an outside contender when, before the controversy, he would have been a certainty to regain his seat.
Kerry Bentivolio, a teacher and Vietnam War veteran, will run in the Aug. 7 primary against former GOP state Sen. Loren Bennett, who announced Friday he will run as a write-in candidate.
The congressman was subject to widespread sniping about how he failed to gather the signatures.
A flamboyant figure and avid Tweeter known for his guitar playing and love of rock music — and who is generally well regarded on Capitol Hill for his genial disposition — McCotter surprised many when he announced his run for the Republican presidential nomination in June 2011. His presidential bid lasted about six weeks.
On Thursday, former GOP state Attorney General Mike Cox told reporter Ken Abramczyk of the "Observer and Eccentric," a unit of Gannett Co. “It’s clear that he doesn’t care about Congress anymore. It’s clear that he isn’t engaged anymore.”
McCotter added in his statement: “One can’t clean up a mess multitasking. Honoring my promise to the sovereign people of our community only allows me to finish the official duties of my present congressional term; and aid the state attorney general criminal investigation that I requested into identifying the person or persons who concocted the fraudulent petitions that have cost me so dearly,” he said.
“Honoring this promise does not allow me to continue a political write-in campaign. This decision is final, regardless of how swiftly the investigation is concluded.”
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