Courser Blasts Schuette For Hypocrisy Over Secret Luxury Real Estate Empire Scandal

By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

Former State Rep. Todd Courser blasted Attorney General Schuette after news broke regarding Schuette's secret luxury real estate empire, as well as the fact he used state employees on state time to help with multiple deals.

Courser says it's hypocritical.

"Hypocrisy Much This is Too Rich....I'm being prosecuted by Schuette for "misconduct in office" its MCL750.505 for supposedly asking a state employee who was off state time to send out a email that supposedly deceived taxpayers," Courser said in a Facebook statement..

"The Speaker of the State House said its not a crime because the employee was off state time, the House counsel said it was not a crime because the employee was off state time, the House Chief of Staff said it was not a crime because the employee was off state time, the House Business Office Director said it was not a crime because the employee was off state time, The Attorney General in Michigan Bill Schuette said it was a crime because he said it was and he said it as he uses his government staff secretly to conduct the review of documents and conduct a closing on a 7.2 million dollar Virgin Island Estate for himself personally and then he lies to the taxpayers about it? But some that is not a crime? Of course no one will prosecute him for it. Too Rich.."

Courser continues to fight the AG's office in court over the charges in a case that has gone on for over two years now.

I will say this... Imagine how the establishment would react if Courser and Gamrat used state employees to help with secret real estate deals while in their official office, AND on state time!? They'd go NUTS! The investigation would have already started! 💯 💯 💯
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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com
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Watch: El Sayed To Colbeck: Muslims HATE You!

El Sayed, left, Colbeck, right

By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

Imagine if State Sen. Patrick Colbeck told Abdul El Sayed, " you may not hate Christians, but Christians definitely hate you."

People would call for him to resign from his senate seat, drop out of the Governor's race, and apologize!
But it's radio silence mostly after Abdul told him, "you may not hate Muslims, but Muslims definitely hate you" last week at the Michigan Press Association forum featuring the candidates for Governor from both parties.

Too his credit, El Sayed has since apologized, though the fact he would make such a statement in the first place is interesting.

Watch the exchange below:

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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com
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State Senator Bill Schuette's "Michigan Financial Disclosure Act" Proposal Included Real Estate Deals

Schuette

By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

Legislation proposed by Attorney General Bill Schuette when he was a State Senator in 2001 would have required disclosure of the luxury real estate empire he has kept secret for decades.

Schuette initially lied when confronted about the property last week, but his campaign later backtracked and confirmed the allegations were true. Schuette was then caught using state employees to help with the deals while on state time, in his official office.

The revelations come despite Schuette's promise to put all of his financial assets in a blind trust.

In 2001, Schuette proposed the Michigan Financial Disclosure Act just two years after he formed Vircom.

The law required Michigan's top elected officials to disclose financial information and assets, including the exact type of property Schuette has been selling but claims he didn't need to disclose..

The proposal never moved out of the Senate.

Here are parts of the law:

Another mention of real estate:

The disclosure would be required of the Attorney General:

Schuette's team falsely equivocated his secret, multi-property real estate empire with the sale of a personal home that was public knowledge while trying to fight back on Friday. 

In doing so, they spread misleading information regarding Governor Snyder.

Snyder kept his personal, private home (which was public knowledge) outside of the blind trust he used, and had a long time aide who knew him before he was Governor sign the paperwork when it was sold--off state time, and outside of his office.

The idea that these two things are in any way CLOSE to the same is absurd...

Will Schuette deny he authored the financial disclosure proposal like he denied selling the properties?

(By the way, Schuette's own law exempts a sale like Snyder's, but not the kind of deals he was involved in.)

Stay tuned!

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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com
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Breaking: Attorney General Schuette Used State Employees To Sign Docs For Secret Luxury Real Estate Empire While In His Official Office

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

According to Crain's:

"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.

>>>Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com
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Breaking: Attorney General Bill Schuette Lied About Secret $40 Million Luxury Real Estate Empire In The Virgin Islands After Calley Confrontation

Schuette, left, Calley, right

By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

Attorney General Bill Schuette denied accusations he secretly runs a real estate empire with nearly $40 million worth of luxury properties in the Virgin Islands when confronted by Lt. Governor Brian Calley about the issue at a candidate forum earlier today, but a West Michigan Politics investigation reveals Mr. Schuette is not telling the truth.

Schuette told Jonathon Oosting of the Detroit News "I have no idea what he’s talking about” after Calley made the bombshell accusations at a Michigan Press Association gubernatorial forum featuring candidates from both parties.

Schuette also said that "all my assets are in a blind trust," calling Calley's claims "false" and "pathetic."

However, documents reveal Schuette's company, Vircom LLC, partners with Doan Estates, an LLC run by Jeffrey Doan, son of deceased Dow Chemical executive Harry Doan. (Schuette has extensive ties to Dow.) Another company with an unknown owner, Regency Development LLC of Delaware, is also a partner with Schuette and Doan.

The area the companies sell land is called Ditleff Point, where they own at least 33 luxury real estate parcels near Rendezvous Bay on St. John in the US Virgin Islands worth nearly $40 million according to real estate listing sites.

The revelation directly contradicts Schuette's claim that he has placed all of his assets in a blind trust. One of his top campaign leaders, John Sellek, reiterated that promise just two months ago.

According to Bridge Magazine:

"Republican Bill Schuette has called for state elected officers and candidates for public office to disclose personal financial information similar to members of Congress. He disclosed his 2016 federal income tax return to Bridge, filed jointly with his wife, but did not disclose specific information about significant assets or travel, which are among items that must be disclosed by members of Congress and others...

Schuette released his tax return, filed jointly with his wife Cynthia. They reported an adjusted gross income of $375,466...Schuette did not report any income earned outside what is reported in his tax return. Schuette did not disclose any assets he may have. Spokesman John Sellek wrote in an email that Schuette has placed his assets in a blind trust “to avoid even an appearance of conflicts of interest.”

Vircom LLC was formed in February of 1999, documents filed with the State of Michigan show. 

Vircom failed to file annual statements from 2000-2005, but the company was restored to good standing with the state in 2005, and Schuette has subsequently filed every year since 2007.

Schuette has led the company for nearly 20 years, and he personally files annual statements with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs-the latest in February of 2018.

Vircom has kept busy even while Schuette has been Attorney General, with deals including a $2.5 million sale to VR Investments in 2013:

As well as a $1.1 million sale to Big Sky Basin LLC in 2012:

Other Vircom activity can be viewed HERE after searching for Vircom

Schuette also owns other companies associated with Virgin Islands real estate, including Ditleff Point Lots Group B LLC, as well as Ditleff Point Lots Group S LLC, which is registered in Delaware with a Midland address. Both were formed in 2013.

Stay tuned for more on this developing story...

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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com
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Media Silent As Over 100 Grand Ledge Students Walk Out In Support Of 2nd Amendment

Grand Ledge students walk out in support of 2nd Amendment (Lansing State Journal)

By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

Over 100 students at Grand Ledge High School outside of Lansing walked out in support of 2nd Amendment rights today.

Organizers say the 2nd Amendment is a right that should not be tampered with. They also used the opportunity to recognize Veterans, who also participated along side the students.

(Kudos to the LSJ for covering the event and being fair, one of the only outlets to do so)

According to the Lansing State Journal:

"Close to 100 students at Grand Ledge High School walked out of class Wednesday morning in a show of support for the Second Amendment. 

"I believe we need weapons to protect from other weapons," said Hunter Barnes, a 16-year-old sophomore. He believes the right to bear arms is vital to protect against those who would do harm.

The walkout was part of a nationwide "Stand for the Second" event planned for Wednesday. The local event was organized by Grand Ledge senior Zach Bell, who used a megaphone to announce moments of silence for police and members of the armed services. Students were joined near the flagpole outside the school by members of the American Legion-VFW Post 3293 Honor Guard, led by veteran Dale Walters.

"We are for your rights," Walters told the students gathered.  "You guys are the next line of defense, think about what rights we have and how you can defend them."

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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com
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Breaking: Shri Thanedar Challenges Abdul El Sayed's Eligibility To Run For Governor

By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

Shri Thanedar, currently leading the Democratic field in the race for Governor in multiple polls, has announced he is challenging the eligibility of one of his opponents, Abdul El Sayed.

El Sayed is a Doctor from Detroit running to be America's first Muslim Governor.

The problem is, the Michigan Constitution requires the Governor to be an elector in the state of Michigan for 4 years prior to the election, and El Sayed only re-registered in Michigan after the 2016 Presidential primary. He moved from Michigan to New York in 2014.

Former State Senator Gretchen Whitmer is neck-and-neck with Shri in the polls, but continues to struggle. 

Thanedar is being shredded with attacks in the media after his rise in the polls, most prominently, allegations over animal abuse at one of his former businesses. 

Thanedar says it's time to settle the issue, it's nothing personal against El Sayed.

“I applaud Mr. El-Sayed's attempt to pre-emptively have this issue resolved and also appreciate Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Brandon Dillon for calling for a ruling on this issue,” Thanedar said in a press release. “This move should not be construed as a personal attack. I believe a candidate with standing in this race must step up and challenge Mr. El-Sayed's eligibility to resolve this issue once and for all.”

Thanedar says Attorney General Schuette wants El Sayed as his opponent so he can have him booted off the ballot after the primary. 

“It is my belief that Attorney General Schuette wants to keep a potentially ineligible Democratic candidate on the ballot as a political tactic that assists his campaign,” Thanedar said. “However, I am interested in ensuring the integrity of this election for all Michigan voters. I believe it is important that this situation be resolved - not only to determine the eligibility of my opponent Mr. Abdul El-Sayed, but also to maintain the integrity of the Michigan Democratic Party's statewide primary ballot."

According to Shri's press release:

"Thanedar is challenging El-Sayed’s eligibility on three grounds:

1. The Michigan Constitution requires gubernatorial candidates be a “registered elector in this state” for four years before the general election. Mr. El-Sayed voted in New York in 2012. Records indicate that Mr. El-Sayed was registered to vote in New York as recently as March 2015, according to the New York Department of Elections, which would break his streak of voting in Michigan.
2. Despite his allegations, Michigan voting records indicate Mr. El-Sayed was not registered to vote within the city of Detroit until more than two weeks after the Michigan presidential primary, on March 25, 2016.
3. Mr. El-Sayed officially filed for a driver's license as a resident of New York in Manhattan in 2012 and was issued a New York driver license the following year. By definition, this action would determine that his residency at that time was in the state of New York, not the state of Michigan.

I wonder if El Sayed will accuse Shri of being a white supremacist like he did to Senator Colbeck? ;)

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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com
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