Michael McGuinness
Template:TOCnestleft Michael McGuinness Mike McGuinness was Jocelyn Benson's former operations director.
The Justice Caucus
On June 7, 2009, The Justice Caucus hosted the 2009 Spirit of Millie Jeffrey Award Dinner to Benefit the Camp Millie Progressive Grassroots Training Organization. Michael McGuinness, Chair, Oakland County Democratic Party was the master of ceremonies at the event.[1]
On March 21, 2010, The Justice Caucus held their annual award and fundraising dinner in honor of the life of Millie Jeffrey. The dinner was held at the Courtyard by Marriott, 3205 Boardwalk Dr., Ann Arbor. The keynote speaker was Governor Madeleine M. Kunin (Vermont) and the MC for the night was Michael McGuinness, chair of the Oakland County Democratic Party. The following progressive activists were recognized with the Millie Jeffrey award, "reflecting their commitment and work for economic and social justice": Elizabeth Bunn, secretary-treasurer of the UAW; Maryion T. Lee; Ethel Schwartz; and Ron Scott. Sarah Juster, an Ann Arbor high school student "who has shown exceptional leadership in the fight against genocide and to provide relief to the refugees of Darfur," received the Millie Jeffrey Rising Star Award.[2]
Fake Tea Party
Republicans and tea party organizations claim that Jocelyn Benson was linked to a fake tea party group called "The Tea Party", "which was unsuccessful in seeking political party status on the November ballot and which has been labeled a fake."[3] According to an article published in October 2010, the GOP leaders "claim that former Oakland County Democratic Party Chairman Michael McGuinness was Benson's former operations director and that McGuinness and former Oakland Democratic Party employee Jason Bauer both contributed to her campaign. They also say Bauer notarized 12 of 23 of the candidate filings for 'The Tea Party group'".
- "McGuinness and Bauer both quit their positions with the county Democratic party after allegations of election fraud in the filings of some of the candidates listed with The Tea Party organization."
Speculation was that the motive was to split the Republican vote.[4]
False affidavit/ Perjury
On March 16, 2011, Michael McGuinness, former Oakland County Democratic Party chairman and Jason Bauer, former political director for the county party were each charged with three counts of uttering and publishing and perjury, while Bauer also faces three counts of a violation of the Michigan Notary Act. This followed a six-month grand jury investigation into allegations of election fraud. In the grand jury warrant, McGuiness and Bauer were accused of fraudulently entering Aaron William Tyler as a Tea Party candidate for District 2 County Commission in July. That alleged act resulted in a charge of uttering and publishing. McGuiness and Bauer are also accused of making a false affidavit or swearing falsely while under oath for the purpose of qualifying Tyler as a candidate for office, resulting in a charge of perjury.[5]
References
- ↑ Justice Caucus on Flickr: Kathleen Straus and Michael McGuinness, July 2, 2009 (accessed on Jan. 31, 2011)
- ↑ Blogging For Michigan: The 2010 Spirit of Millie Jeffrey Award Dinner on tap, March 16, 2010 (accessed on Jan. 31, 2011)
- ↑ GOP questions SOS candidate's tie to fake tea party (accessed on November 5 2020)
- ↑ Two charged with election fraud for fake Tea Party filings(democrats) (accessed on November 5 2020)
- ↑ The Oakland Press: Two charged with election fraud for fake Tea Party filings, March 16, 2011 (accessed on March 21, 2011)