By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)
Attorney General Bill Schuette used multiple state employees to help sign documents related to his luxury real estate company in the Virgin islands that he has hidden for nearly 20 years, documents show.
The Attorney General's office has not yet responded to a Freedom of Information Act to confirm one of the employees, Andrea Bitely, was on the clock on state time during the transaction. However, Bitely seemingly confirmed as much to a Detroit media outlet this morning.
Schuette assistant Lori Gay, as well as another staffer, Dulce Cardenas, were also involved.
Disturbingly, the incident also seems to have occurred in Schuette's official Attorney General office...
Schuette's real estate empire partnership is worth around $40 million.
Breaking: Attorney General Bill Schuette Lied About Secret $40 Million Luxury Real Estate Empire In The Virgin Islands After Calley Confrontation
"Vircom LLC, a Midland company registered under Schuette's name at his home address, sold two separate parcels of land in St. John in 2012 and 2013 totaling $3.6 million. Schuette is listed in Michigan and U.S. Virgin Islands records as the "manager" and registered agent of Vircom.
Schuette completed another transaction granting an easement on family-owned property on the island of St. John on Nov. 16, 2016, with the help of three state employees, property records obtained by Crain's show.
Schuette's executive assistant, Lori Gay, notarized the transaction and the attorney general's communications director, Andrea Bitely, and an office analyst, Dulce Cardenas, signed as witnesses to the private transaction, U.S. Virgin Islands property records show.
"Bill signed and Lori notarized the document while I was waiting to talk to him and, as a result, I signed as a witness," Bitely said Thursday in an email to Crain's. "If my memory serves, it was less than two minutes of our day."
Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, Schuette's leading GOP opponent, criticized Schuette for the real estate transactions after the attorney general has publicly said for years that he transferred his assets into a blind trust before becoming the state's chief law enforcement officer in 2011."
West Michigan Politics has obtained the document Bitely and the others signed, the relevant portion is below:
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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.
Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.
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