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Secretary Of State Dismisses Complaints Against Bolger, Schmidt

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Michigan Democrats have not been able to prove House Speaker Jase Bolger and Representative Roy Schmidt broke the law in a party-switch scandal this year. That’s according to the state Bureau of Elections.

The department has tossed out all but one complaint filed against Bolger and Schmidt by state Democrats. Officials say they have no reason to believe the lawmakers used public resources to engineer Schmidt’s switch to the Republican Party in May.

Bolger spokesperson Ari Adler says opponents are wasting their own time.

“Democrats can huff and puff all they want, but we will not be distracted and our caucus remains strong,” he says.

The Secretary of State’s office says it will continue to investigate an alleged campaign finance violation by Representative Schmidt.

Michigan Democrats say the department is assisting in a cover-up of the scandal.

Bolger and Schmidt are still the subjects of a grand jury investigation.

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Jake Neher is a reporter for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He covers the State Legislature and other political events in Lansing.