A liberal advocacy group is attacking state House Speaker Jase Bolger’s past business record in attempt to damage his shot at re-election. The attack comes while Bolger is in the midst of a separate election fraud investigation. The group Progress Michigan says Bolger’s company avoided paying taxes over the course of three years.
Progress Michigan released documents with information dating between 1997 and the year 2000. They include liens from the state and the IRS demanding Bolger’s Summit Credit Service fork over more than $100,000 in unpaid taxes and fees. The documents also show Wachovia Bank sued Bolger and his company for embezzlement and fraud.
“There is no situation being faced by the speaker or his partners that isn’t faced by many small businesses in Michigan that struggle during their first few years," says Bolger spokesman Ari Adler.
Adler says Summit has long since paid all the money owed to the government. He also says Wachovia dropped their lawsuit after Summit showed documents proving they never embezzled money or failed to pay their fair share to the bank.