TRAVERSE CITY -- A criminal investigation into allegations Meijer Inc. illegally contributed to a local recall campaign awaits the Grand Rapids-based retailer's own internal investigation.
Detective Sgt. Mark Henschell of the Michigan State Police in Traverse City is investigating whether Meijer used corporate funds to influence a failed February 2007 recall election in Acme Township.
Documents produced through a lawsuit show Grand Rapids public relations firm Seyferth Spaulding Tennyson Inc., billed Meijer more than $30,000 to secretly manage a recall effort against the township board over ongoing zoning disputes.
State law prohibits corporations from contributing to political campaigns; it's a felony violation with a maximum fine of $10,000 and a prison term of up to three years.
Henschell said he contacted Meijer seeking financial records and was referred to an attorney who represents the retailer. That attorney told Henschell those documents are possessed by John Pirich, an attorney with the law firm of Honigman Miller of Lansing.
Meijer hired Pirich to conduct an internal review of Meijer's involvement in the Acme recall election and file necessary campaign finance reports with the Secretary of State.
Henschell said he was told Pirich expects to conclude his review for Meijer early this month. He agreed to wait until then for Meijer to hand over the documents.
Henschell said he won't begin interviews until after he completes the document collection stage of the investigation. In addition to the Meijer documents, he's also tracked newspaper advertisements, billings, and other information related to the recall election.
Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Alan Schneider said the investigation is expected to take about two months.
Rich Robinson, executive director of the nonpartisan Michigan Campaign Finance Network, said state law calls on Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land to try and reach "conciliation" with Meijer, but the law also gives her discretion to refer the case to the Michigan Attorney General for criminal review.
Since 2002, state campaign finance documents show Land's campaign fund received $6,800 from the Meijer Political Action Committee and Meijer family members, while Attorney General Mike Cox received $20,250 into his political funds from the Meijer PAC and family.
Robinson believes the criminal probe is better off in Grand Traverse County than in Lansing.
"Schneider's political future is much more tied up in the confidence the people of Grand Traverse County have in his integrity than is the political future of Terri Lynn Land or Mike Cox," he said.
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