Ex-congressional aide makes plea in fraud case

PONTIAC (AP) -- A former aide to then-U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter has pleaded no contest to committing fraud on his nominating petitions in a case that knocked the Livonia Republican lawmaker off the ballot. Mary Turnbull entered the plea Tuesday in Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac. The 59-year-old Howell resident faces sentencing July 9. McCotter was disqualified from the 2012 congressional primary after the secretary of state's office said he lacked the 1,000 valid signatures. He resigned last July, rather than serve the remainder of his term. Authorities say Turnbull and other McCotter aides forged signatures, cut and pasted signatures from other petitions and had people falsely sign statements that they circulated the petitions. Ex-McCotter aide Paul Seewald also has pleaded guilty in the case, while ex-aide Don Yowchuang has pleaded no contest. Published: Thu, May 30, 2013