Petition signature validators testify that their concerns were brushed off

(Detroit Free Press) Two validators who worked for a trio accused of faking petition signatures testified Friday that they were told to "push" through signatures if the information matched or to "mark it good" despite concerns they raised.

The three-day-long preliminary exam for Shawn and Jamie Wilmoth and their business partner Willie Reed is to continue Feb. 29, when former Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley is expected to testify. The Wilmoths and Reed each face more than two dozen charges in 37th District Court in Warren.

Kelley was expected to testify Friday from a federal prison in Wisconsin, where he is serving a 60-day sentence after he pleaded guilty to a federal misdemeanor charge for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. He is to be released from prison Jan. 25, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons website.

....(snip)....

The Wilmoths and Reed are accused of operating a criminal enterprise that charged several campaigns more than $700,000 for valid signature collection, then delivered thousands of forged signatures on nomination petitions to eight of the campaigns. ..............(more)

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/macomb/2024/01/13/workers-testify-fake-petition-signature-case-2022-election/72191586007/