State: No Bolger finance violations

LANSING, Mich. (WOOD) - A complaint concerning an election scandal involving the Michigan Speaker of the House and a state representative has been dismissed.

The Secretary of State's Office handed down its decision regarding Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) Thursday. Bolger and Rep. Roy Schmidt (R-Grand Rapids) are accused of using public resources to plan Schmidt's eleventh-hour switch to the Republican Party and the recruitment of a fake candidate to run against him.

The Secretary of State said Thursday the House Business Office did not reimburse Bolger or Schmidt for any cell phone bills incurred during the planning of the scandal.

It also said the staffer who helped Schmidt and the fake candidate file their papers to 8 hours of personal leave time to do it. And it said the staff attorney who gave Schmidt legal advice did so on his own time.

The Secretary of State did point out that it is still investigating Kent County Prosecutor William Forsyth's allegations that Schmidt committed other campaign finance violations.

A one-person grand jury, requested by the Michigan Democratic Party, is also investigating.

Forsyth has already ruled that no criminal laws were broken.

Both Schmidt and Bolger are up for re-election Nov. 6.