FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
CONTACT: Jessica Tramontana, 517-974-6302
FOIA reveals text messages between Reps. Lyons and Schmidt, shows misuse of city resources providing unnecessary police protection
LANSING – Citizen watchdog group Progress Michigan is calling on Rep. Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R-Alto) to admit a clear connection with the Bolger/Schmidt election fraud scandal and to reimburse Kent County for inappropriately doling out public resources. A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request shows texts from Rep. Lyons to Roy Schmidt, offering to have her husband – a Kent County Corrections officer – call in sick to provide a private security detail on the taxpayer’s dime. “If you want, my Brad will call in sick and do it, I want you guys to be safe.” Lyons later texted “Oh and Brad is going to have a GRPD car patrol by your house a few times tonight.”
“It’s clear that Lansing politicians have the wrong priorities,” said Zack Pohl, Executive Director of Progress Michigan. “Instead of holding Roy Schmidt and Jase Bolger accountable for conspiring to commit voter fraud, Lisa Posthumus Lyons actively participated in the cover-up and wasted taxpayer dollars by demanding special police protection for Schmidt. Lyons should immediately apologize to the people of Grand Rapids, and personally reimburse the city for Schmidt’s special police protection. Michigan citizens deserve better.”
Texts show Lyons advising Schmidt to not read news reports of the party switch, and also sharing a message from Speaker Bolger instructing fake Democrat Matt Mojzak to avoid speaking to news organizations. Lyons also told Schmidt he should skip committee meetings:
“The Speaker is asking you not attend Committees for a couple of days, he wants you to lay low, practically sequestered.”
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BACKGROUND
Detroit News: Lisa Lyons tried to arrange police protection for Roy Schmidt
Texts between Lisa Lyons and Roy Schmidt (PDF)