First conviction recorded in McCotter campaign probe

LIVONIA (AP) -- A woman has pleaded no contest in an investigation of fraudulent election petitions submitted by then-U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter's campaign. The attorney general's office says Lorianne O'Brady of Livonia pleaded no contest Tuesday to falsely declaring that she had circulated nominating petitions for McCotter for his 2012 campaign, a misdemeanor. McCotter didn't make the August primary ballot because he didn't have enough valid signatures. Attorney General Bill Schuette says names on the petitions were copied and altered. O'Brady had worked as McCotter's scheduler. She faces up to 93 days in jail when she returns to court on Oct. 25. Three other people are facing felony charges in the investigation. Schuette says there's no evidence that McCotter was directly involved. He quit Congress in July. Published: Thu, Sep 20, 2012