If you enjoy the content at iBankCoin, please follow us on TwitterA former Oakland County Democratic party operative was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay more than $2,500 in fines and court costs for his role in creating “fake” tea party candidates in the 2010 election, in an effort to siphon off support for legitimate Republican candidates.
Jason Bauer, 31, of Waterford said nothing as Oakland County Circuit Court judge James Alexander, a former official with the county’s Republican party, told Bauer what he did was equivalent to murder.
“This is as heinous as someone who tries to kill somebody else,” Alexander said.
Bauer, in November, pleaded no contest to five felony counts of perjury and falsifying notarized documents. He and fellow Democratic official Michael McGuinness were indicted by a one man grand jury in March for attempting to put unknowing residents on the ballot as “tea party” candidates. Investigators said the ruse was an attempt to lure Republican votes, which would dilute the votes for authentic candidates.
McGuinness, like Bauer, pleaded no contest and was sentenced to probation in December.
In sentencing Bauer today, Alexander told him his political career was over for engaging in what Alexander called, “political shenanigans.”
“My sentence pales compares to what you’ve done to yourself,” Alexander said.
Bauer left without talking to reporters. Matt Frendewey, the communications director for the Michigan Republican Party, attended the hearing and said he was pleased.
“Justice has been served, and we are very pleased that these two have been held accountable,” he said
Joined Nov 11, 2007
31,929 Blog Posts
