PONTIAC, Mich., Jan., 11, 2012 - A second Democrat Party official was sentenced today for his role in creating a fake "Tea Party" in order to confuse voters in the 2010 election cycle. Jason Bauer served as political director to the Oakland County Democratic Party and as campaign manager to then-secretary of state candidate Jocelyn Benson. Former Oakland County Democrat Party Chairman Mike McGuinness was sentenced on similar charges in December. Bauer was charged with five felony counts and sentenced to probation by Oakland County Circuit Judge James Alexander.

"The actions by these Democrat Party officials is disappointing and was a serious attempt to undermine our system of government," said Bobby Schostak, chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. "Voters expect political parties to disagree not lie, cheat or steal. These individuals attempted to confuse voters and manipulate the election by fraudulently creating a political party. It is disappointing such high level Democrat officials were involved in this scheme and even more troubling to learn that one served in such a prominent position to a candidate running to be Michigan's chief elections officer. We can only hope that my counter-part at the Democrat Party joins me in condemning these individuals and their action."

The scheme involved creating a fake Tea Party by Mark Steffek of Clio, Mich., which then held a "convention" to nominate 23 candidates to various legislative offices both at the state and county level. The names of the 23 candidates were then submitted to the Michigan Department of Secretary of State. An investigation into the names by then-Oakland County Clerk Ruth Johnson revealed that some of the candidates were not aware that the fake Tea Party had nominated them, signatures were forged and at least one no longer lived in Michigan.