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Michigan State Police began investigating in July.
FLINT, Mich. (WJRT) – Suspended Flint City Councilman Eric Mays is under investigation over how he paid for his legal fees.
Michigan State Police received a complaint in July alleging that Mays violated the Michigan Legal Defense Fund Act.
The Michigan Legal Defense Fund Act is intended to regulate how elected officials pay their legal costs when accused of wrongdoing by government action.
The charges allege that after Mays was found guilty of disorderly conduct for his actions at a Flint City Council meeting, he set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for his legal costs, but the fund was not reported by law. It is said that the procedure was not followed.
In April 2022, Flint City Councilman Eric Mays was arrested for disorderly conduct at a meeting. In March of this year, he was found guilty of a misdemeanor by a jury and sentenced to six months’ probation.
A GoFundMe page he set up has been called into question. Mr. Mayes has raised more than $23,000 since starting the page last March, the day he was sentenced.
“My attorney fees are higher than what I am currently paying,” Mays said in the original GoFundMe post.
The reference to an attorney has now disappeared, but Mayes wrote in an updated post that “we were able to pay a total of $7,000 today and it looks like our attorney will file a motion and brief tomorrow.” There is.
The Michigan Legal Defense Fund Act requires elected officials to submit a statement of organization to the Secretary of State within 10 days of receiving Legal Defense Fund funds.
Mays claims he has not done this, and the Secretary of State’s website, which lists legal defense funds, does not list him.
The law also provides that anonymous donations cannot be accepted for legal defense funds and that such donations must be given to nonprofit organizations.
The GoFundMe page lists several anonymous donations.
Michigan State Police confirmed in July that it began investigating the allegations. They then sent the report to the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office, which referred the matter to the state Attorney General’s Office for investigation.
The Rent Law Group, which represents Rep. Mayes, said, “Rep. Mayes is finalizing the establishment of a legal defense fund with the Michigan Department of State. This process began last year. We suspect that there may have been some kind of complaint against him.” His enforcement actions regarding LDF are politically motivated and intended to paint Councilmember May in a negative light. ”
Mays is currently serving a 90-day suspension from the Flint City Council.
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