Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced that Sandra Baxter, a 65-year-old fundraising consultant from Caledonia, pled guilty to providing a false statement during a campaign finance investigation. The case revolves around the Unlock Michigan campaign, and Baxter has admitted to lying to a peace officer during the probe. The misdemeanor she pleaded guilty to carries a potential sentence of up to a year in jail, and/or fines reaching $2,500.
Back in 2021, suspicious activities surrounding funds linked to the Unlock Michigan ballot initiative triggered a complaint by Robert LaBrant, pointing to alleged abuses of campaign finances. The Michigan Department of State, after fielding this complaint, passed on the case to the Department of Attorney General on June 3, 2022. Baxter, in her role as a solicitor for Michigan! My Michigan! was charged after providing a misleading statement during her March 10, 2023, examination under oath conducted by an investigator from the Attorney General’s office.
According to a press release from the Michigan Department of Attorney General’s Office, AG Nessel underscored the importance of Baxter’s plea, stating, “Knowingly providing false information during an investigation undermines the integrity of our legal system.” Nessel further stressed, “This plea makes clear that those who attempt to deceive investigators will be held accountable,” reinforcing her office’s dedication to truth and justice in the face of obstruction…