Michigan Dems cite potential ethics violation at John James event

By Grant Schwab, Medianews Group

An activist for the Michigan Democratic Get together filed an moral grievance in opposition to the Gubernatorial candidate of Michigan and American Rep. John James, R-Shelby Township, concerning the alleged abuse of congress sources.

The grievance claimed that James Taxpayer used assets from his American home at a Wednesday occasion the place at the least one worker and varied printed indicators additionally promote the Run of the Republican legislator for Governor of Michigan.

“His actions mistreat each taxpayers by abusing their hard-earned cash for the non-public good thing about the James-en marketing campaign by abusing our democracy by abusing the facility of the US congress to affect an election of the state,” wrote Joel Rutherford in a grievance.

Rutherford beforehand served as chairman of the Michigan Democratic Get together for the tenth Congress District, which represents James. The district within the Detroit suburbs includes South Macomb County and Rochester and Rochester Hills in Oakland County. James will ultimately depart the chair on the finish of 2026, as a result of he can not run for each places of work on the similar time.

The occasion in query, held on a Minor League baseball match in Utica, contained a free giveaway motion of backpacks and sophistication provides for the approaching college 12 months. A James spokeswoman rejected the declare of ethics on Friday.

“For 3 years, John James Michigan kids supplied free backpacks and college provides, with the assistance of no taxpayer {dollars}. Democrats, obsessive about authorities dependence and a wake -up agenda, an actual chief attacking households,” mentioned James spokeswoman Hannah Osantowske in an announcement.

She continued: “Beneath ‘Democrat Management’ Michigan -students of Michigan develop on a shameful forty seventh in nationwide Leesscores. John James comes up with a daring plan: as governor he’ll ship outcomes, restore educational excellence and our kids to the highest propellers, together with backpacks.”

The grievance criticized Osantowske, who serves as spokesman for James’ US Home Workplace and his Gubernatorial Run, for selling an occasion that marketed its state marketing campaign utilizing its congress -mail deal with. Serving in double roles is frequent, though guidelines require that staff separate the official communication between public places of work and campaigns.

Rutherford identified that, in line with the home Ethics Guide, “official assets of the home, as a basic rule, ought to be used for the implementation of the official affairs of the home, and due to this fact these assets might not be used for marketing campaign or political functions.”

Michigan Democratic Get together chairman Curtis Hertel additionally referred to as James for the alleged violation.

“John James abused by taxpayers financed assets by means of his convention workplace to advertise his marketing campaign for Governor, who is illegitimate and a violation of the foundations of dwelling ethics,” he mentioned in an announcement. “James appears to have violated the legislation – and is aimed toward selling himself as an alternative of serving to Michiganders working.

“We urge the Ethics Committee to totally examine this incident on the Home, and if they’re an moral violation, James holds accountable for this unlawful and unethical conduct.”

Initially revealed: August 24, 2025 at 10:18 am Edt