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Community Corner

Republican Spymaster Used Fake Names to Spy on Livingston Dems

Judy Daubenmier, Neighbor

Michigan Democrats today released photo evidence that contrary to Republicans' claims on the record, Republicans were systematically trained to misrepresent their identity and intentions in order to gain entry to Democratic Party events.

CLAIM: MRP spokesman to MLive's Fritz Klug: "It's not like they snuck in and tried to misrepresent themselves."
FACT: That's exactly what Snyder's operatives do. MRP deputy research director John M. Howting, the leader of Gov. Snyder's spy ring, and other Republican staffers and interns attended multiple Democratic events using alter egos and fake names. 

  • Howting attended the Livingston County Democratic Party's 2013 holiday party, introducing himself as "Jack Howell" to the County Chair and others while saying he was from Royal Oak and was in Livingston County visiting his cousin. 
  • Howting also attended a February Young Professionals for Schauer fundraiser in Ferndale, and was photographed wearing spy glasses and wearing a nametag reading "Jack."
  • Howting videotaped himself introducing himself as "Jack Howell" to MDP Chair Lon Johnson
  • 17-year-old GOP spy Conor Quarton videotaped himself introducing himself as "Conor Karcher"
  • MRP regional press secretary Natalie Collins videotaped herself admitting that she intentionally misspelled her name to gain entry to a Mark Schauer fundraiser.
  • The New York Times has reported that in the past, John Howting used the name "Melvin Howting."

    • FACT: GOP spy training videos show a pattern and a practice of young operatives being trained to misrepresent themselves.

    "Republican Gov. Snyder should answer for his Party's activities and explain whether he or his campaign is directing party operatives to use fake names and misrepresent themselves in order to spy on his opponents" said Lon Johnson, Michigan Democratic Party Chair. "There's nothing new about trackers attending public events, but Snyder and Republicans are taking things to extreme levels, wearing secret spy glasses, using fake names, pretending to be reporters, using alter egos and tripping up on their own fancy spyware technology. Now their spokesman is caught in a lie about operatives being systematically trained to misrepresent themselves.  Isn't it just time to come clean?"

    "I want Gov. Snyder and Republicans to know that Republicans are welcome to attend our events, but there's no need for them to use fake names, misrepresent themselves and wear spy glasses as part of their secret spy program," said Judy Daubenmier, Livingston County Democratic Party Chair. "Rather than sneaking around in the corners, I would give them a place on the agenda where they can explain why Gov. Snyder and Republicans raised taxes on seniors and families and cut education, because the Governor sure hasn't."

    (Paid for by Livingston County Democratic Executive Committee, 10321 Grand River Road, Suite 600, Brighton, MI 48116. Labor donated.)

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