Probe Of State Senator May Be Tied To School Corruption Scandal: Reports

DETROIT, MI — State and federal law enforcement officials are expected to conduct another search in the criminal investigation of state Sen. Bert Johnson, and new information has emerged suggesting the probe may be linked to the multi-million-dollar kickback and bribery scandal involving Detroit Public School administrators last year, according to media reports.

The FBI and Michigan State police raided Johnson’s home and Senate office Monday and removed file folders, a computer monitor and other items as part of an ongoing investigation of possible hiring and payroll irregularities.

On Wednesday, Senate spokeswoman Amber McCann said the Justice Department served the Senate on Monday with a “notice of intent” to conduct an additional search of an office storage area, The Detroit News reported. The Detroit Democrat’s former chief of staff, Eric Pate, has also been served with a subpoena.
Johnson, who returned to Lansing Tuesday, has denied any wrongdoing, but has hired an attorney to represent him.

The Detroit Free press on Wednesday quoted a source close to the investigation who said the investigation is linked to the public corruption scandal in which 13 school administrators and a vendor were charged in a $1 bribery and kickback scheme that cost struggling Detroit Public Schools $2.7 million.

Lansing-based Gongwer News Service, which distributes a Capitol newsletter, reported that Johnson employed Glynis Thornton, a vendor who pleaded guilty in February 2016 to one count of conspiracy to commit federal bribery for her role in the scheme involving schools operated by the state’s Education Achievement Authority. She was accused of paying more than $58,000 to principal Kenyetta Wilbourn Snapp.

Her sentencing is scheduled for August, when she is expected to get a reduced sentence in exchange for her cooperation in the investigation.

The new search warrant is items that may be stored in the basement of the office formerly occupied by senators, McCann told The Detroit News.

The FBI and MSP have declined to discuss the case.

Johnson’s duties in Lansing remain unchanged.

“We have no plans at this point to change anything about Sen. Johnson’s office, his committee assignments, his budget,” McCann told The Detroit News. “Sen. Johnson has not been accused of a crime that we’re aware of, so there’s no reason for us to alter anything.”

Photo via Senate Democrats