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Sandra Baxter’s sentencing underscores Michigan’s continued scrutiny of campaign finance practices tied to controversial ballot initiatives.
Veteran Fundraiser Penalized in High-Profile Campaign Finance Probe
Sandra Baxter, 65, of Caledonia, was sentenced Tuesday in Ingham County Circuit Court to three months of reporting probation, 20 hours of community service, and a $2,500 fine—the maximum allowed by law—after pleading guilty in June to knowingly making a false statement to investigators during the state’s Unlock Michigan campaign finance investigation.
Baxter admitted that during a March 10, 2023, examination under oath, she provided misleading information about material facts in a criminal probe into the conservative-led ballot campaign. She was initially charged in February 2024 with perjury.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Baxter’s case is part of a broader effort to curb the influence of untraceable political spending, often referred to as dark money, in state politics. “Fair elections depend on transparency and honesty, and attempts to skirt the system or mislead law enforcement and the people of Michigan will not be tolerated,” Nessel said in a statement.
Origin of the Investigation and the Role of “Dark Money”
The investigation stems from a May 2021 complaint filed by Republican strategist Robert LaBrant with the Michigan Department of State, alleging a “dark money scheme” involving the nonprofit Michigan! My Michigan! and the ballot committee Unlock Michigan. The complaint claimed the entities funneled undisclosed contributions into the petition drive to repeal the governor’s emergency powers law, in violation of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act.
The Department of State referred the matter to the Attorney General in June 2022. Court records and the original complaint allege that Baxter, a fundraising consultant for Michigan! My Michigan!, was involved in soliciting funds for the ballot effort.
Campaign Finance Allegations and Organizational Links
Documents from the LaBrant complaint allege that Unlock Michigan was not a grassroots initiative but a project conceived by then–Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, funded largely through dark money channels. The filing detailed how Shirkey-linked nonprofits Michigan Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility (MCFR) and Michigan! My Michigan! allegedly coordinated contributions and payments to cover large signature-gathering expenses for the petition drive.
According to the complaint, MCFR and Michigan! My Michigan! provided nearly 86 percent of Unlock Michigan’s funding. While these claims were denied by the nonprofits, the Attorney General’s office pursued Baxter over false statements made during the investigation rather than over direct campaign finance violations.
Defense Response and Legal Context
Attorneys for MCFR and Michigan! My Michigan! have argued in filings that the allegations are politically motivated and legally insufficient, noting that similar complaints were previously dismissed by the Bureau of Elections as lacking evidence of a violation under state law.
Under the Michigan Campaign Finance Act, a nonprofit or other entity cannot be classified as a ballot question committee unless it solicits or receives contributions specifically for the purpose of making an expenditure to that committee. Defense counsel maintains that no such solicitation occurred.
Broader Implications for Michigan Politics
While Baxter’s misdemeanor conviction closes her personal legal chapter, the sentencing highlights the persistent tension in Michigan politics over the use of nonprofits to influence ballot initiatives without disclosing donors. The Unlock Michigan campaign succeeded in its goal, with the Legislature repealing the emergency powers law in 2021.
Political observers note that the case may embolden calls for stricter disclosure requirements at the state level. National watchdog groups such as the Brennan Center for Justice have identified state ballot initiatives as particularly vulnerable to dark money spending, citing weak enforcement and limited transparency rules.
Related Coverage
- “Michigan Attorney General’s Office Expands Campaign Finance Probes into Ballot Initiatives” – Thumbwind
- “How ‘Dark Money’ Shapes State-Level Ballot Campaigns” – Brennan Center for Justice
- “Lawmakers Debate Expanding Disclosure Rules for Nonprofits Engaged in Politics” – Detroit Free Press
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