Conspiracy Charge Dropped Against 2 Former McCotter Staffers

A Wayne County Circuit Court judge on Jan. 18 dismissed a felony conspiracy charge against two former staffers for former U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, who resigned this past year amid a petition fraud scandal, the Detroit Free Press reported.

According to the Free Press report, the staffers also were sentenced to probation for their previous pleas in the case.

The charges include the following:

• Paul Seewald, former district director, two years of probation on nine counts of falsely signing a nominating petition as a circulator.
• Don Yowchuang, former deputy district director, three years of probation on 10 counts of forgery, six counts of falsely signing a nominating petition as a circulator.

Seewald must complete 100 hours of community service, the report indicated, while Yowchuang must complete 200. Both are barred from collecting petition signatures during their respective probation periods.

McCotter resigned his Congressional seat in July 2012 after a whirlwind year, including the petition fraud scandal, as well as a failed presidential bid and a leaked script for a television pilot. 

Details of the petition fraud case surfaced after McCotter failed to generate enough valid signatures to seek reelection. His subsequent resignation set off a special election in November, won by Democrat David Curson, to fill out the remainder of his term. 

McCotter was never charged in the petition fraud case.