A former operations director of the Oakland County Democratic Party pleaded no contest to charges that he committed election fraud when he attempted to get fake Tea Party candidates on the Michigan ballot.
Jason Bauer pleaded no contest to five felonies related to the scheme, which was an effort to split the Republican vote by putting people on the ballot as “Michigan Tea Party” candidates last November, without the candidates’ knowledge. Bauer notarized affidavits for 12 of these fake candidates, and was scheduled to go on trial December 8 before he entered the plea, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Michael McGuinness, the former chair of the Oakland County Democratic Party, also pleaded no contest last month. He is scheduled to be in sentenced December 7. Bauer will be sentenced in January.
Both face up to 14 years in prison.
