FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
July 10, 2018
Contact: Sam Inglot, 616-916-0574, sam@progressmichigan.org
Coincidence or Corruption? Mysterious Redaction in Schuette’s Calendar
Date coincides with date Schuette used public staff to facilitate private real estate deal
LANSING — Progress Michigan has obtained Attorney General Bill Schuette’s work calendar and is pointing out a questionable redaction in his schedule on the date he used public staff to finalize a private real estate transaction involving tropical island property. The use of taxpayer-funded staff is also the subject of an investigation that was recently referred to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“The question needs to be asked, even after he was caught in the act, is Schuette trying to hide his shady actions from the public?” asked Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan. “Schuette cannot be allowed to get away with using his public office and public staff for personal financial gain.”
The date in question in Schuette’s calendar can be viewed here and was outlined in a story by Crain’s Detroit:
On Nov. 16, 2016, Schuette completed another transaction granting an easement on family-owned property on the island of St. John with the help of three state employees, property records obtained by Crain’s show.
Gay notarized the 2016 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.
The calendar shows on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 a “Staff Meeting” from 10:00am to 11:00am and then a redacted entry from 11:00am – 11:30am. The calendar entry can be viewed here.
“We think it’s worth asking the question if Schuette is using public staff for personal gain and then trying to hide it by redacting it on his public calendar,” Scott said.
Schuette’s calendar was obtained by Progress Michigan through another individual’s Freedom of Information Act request that was then sent to the watchdog organization. The entire calendar details Schuette’s appointments — or lack thereof — from 2015 to early 2018.
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