Former Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano wants a Grand Jury to investigate whether Bill Schuette misused his state office and Ficano wants the answers for voters before the November election.
This issue first surfaced in May when documents show Schuette inherited $7.2 million worth of property in the Virgin Islands from his family and used six state employees in his office to conduct the transactions on four occasions between 2013 and 2017.
Ficano has filed a petition with the Ingham County Court to conduct an expedited investigation with a one-person Grand Jury and says there is probable cause.
Ficano Letter by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder who has had differences with Schuette recently called this “a serious matter.”
Ficano says, “As Mr. Schuette has said, nobody’s above the law. I know it was turned over to the FBI. But that might take a real long time, probably past November because they’re methodical.”
Schuette has called this a “smear campaign” after it was reported the people making that referral in Ingham County held a fundraiser for Gretchen Whitmer, the Democratic candidate for Governor.
Ficano was booted out of office by the voters in 2014 after the 7 Investigators exposed corruption and waste in his administration including the failed Wayne County Jail project.
This statement was issued today from Schuette’s Office of Attorney General by spokesperson Andrea Bitley:
He’s the last guy to be judging others -- This is more politics and this time coming from a Democrat who was run out of office by ethical problems and then soundly rejected by Wayne County voters at the ballot box. It’s sad, but we expect these political games to continue.
