It’s been a rough week for Doug Sedenquist, the bad boy of the
Michigan Republican Party.
Michigan Republican Party.
At the beginning of the week, his talk-radio show, “Mornings in
Michigan” which he co-hosts with Devin Lawrence on Mackinaw City-based “Patriot
Voice Radio” was apparently cancelled.
Michigan” which he co-hosts with Devin Lawrence on Mackinaw City-based “Patriot
Voice Radio” was apparently cancelled.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the tea party loyalist spent his days
in Delta County Circuit Court, where he is on trial for four felony charges — extortion,
stalking, computer crime, and drug possession. All were related to alleged
threats and harassment aimed at his ex-wife.
in Delta County Circuit Court, where he is on trial for four felony charges — extortion,
stalking, computer crime, and drug possession. All were related to alleged
threats and harassment aimed at his ex-wife.
On Thursday, after an hour and a half of deliberation, the jury found him guilty of extortion and the computer crime. He now faces up to 20 years in prison.
And then there’s this little tid-bit: Over the course of the week Sednquist’s clique of U.P. right-wingers
took a hit as news of a slightly sleazy surprise coup attempt within the Emmet
County GOP leaked out.
took a hit as news of a slightly sleazy surprise coup attempt within the Emmet
County GOP leaked out.
According to some Republican insiders, one of
Sedenquist’s fellow radio rabble-rousers, Brian Sommerfield, showed up at an
Emmet County meeting attended by about 10 people and arranged a vote to remove
June Jackson as party chair.
Sedenquist’s fellow radio rabble-rousers, Brian Sommerfield, showed up at an
Emmet County meeting attended by about 10 people and arranged a vote to remove
June Jackson as party chair.
I’m told Jackson was not in attendance because she was at the
bedside of her dying son. Some party activists wonder if Sommerfield’s radio
show co-host, the infamous “Trucker Randy” Bishop, was in on the plot. It
appears that the takeover was handled improperly, according to GOP rules, and
will not stand.
bedside of her dying son. Some party activists wonder if Sommerfield’s radio
show co-host, the infamous “Trucker Randy” Bishop, was in on the plot. It
appears that the takeover was handled improperly, according to GOP rules, and
will not stand.
All this while Sedenquist, former vice chair of the Delta County
GOP, is still a member of the Republican State Central Committee.
GOP, is still a member of the Republican State Central Committee.
In circuit court, the prosecution cited several incidents during
the past two years when Sedenquist allegedly repeatedly threatened, intimidated
and stalked his ex-wife in Escanaba and also in Green Bay, Wisc., where she
works as a nurse, according to The (Escanaba) Daily Press.
the past two years when Sedenquist allegedly repeatedly threatened, intimidated
and stalked his ex-wife in Escanaba and also in Green Bay, Wisc., where she
works as a nurse, according to The (Escanaba) Daily Press.
Court testimony backed up the extortion charge, which stems from
allegations that Sedenquist was going to (falsely) tell his ex-wife’s employer
that she had violated patient confidentiality rights unless she gave in to his
demands for retirement funds, spousal support, and joint child custody rights.
allegations that Sedenquist was going to (falsely) tell his ex-wife’s employer
that she had violated patient confidentiality rights unless she gave in to his
demands for retirement funds, spousal support, and joint child custody rights.
E-mails supporting many of the allegations were entered as
evidence.
evidence.
We also learned during the course of the trial that Sedenquist,
52, has poor timing when committing his alleged crimes.
52, has poor timing when committing his alleged crimes.
In March 2013, Sedenquist was arrested in Green Bay, in a
separate incident in which he became engaged in an armed standoff with police
in a shopping center parking lot.
separate incident in which he became engaged in an armed standoff with police
in a shopping center parking lot.
It was revealed in court this week that Sedenquist failed to
appear for his final divorce hearing on March 6, 2013, in Delta County because
he was lodged in a Green Bay jail. It was previously reported that when he was
arrested and jailed by Escanaba police in December for the four felonies he
missed a court appearance in Green Bay because he was behind bars trying to
post bail.
appear for his final divorce hearing on March 6, 2013, in Delta County because
he was lodged in a Green Bay jail. It was previously reported that when he was
arrested and jailed by Escanaba police in December for the four felonies he
missed a court appearance in Green Bay because he was behind bars trying to
post bail.
There's a handful of strange people purporting to be Republicans currently on the loose in Michigan. This article named some of the more flagrant ones. These guys sure don't represent the thinking of any Republicans I know… and I know a lot of 'em!
Right…. but the lack of effort by Republicans to purge these scumbags from the party is hurting us. Most are also part of Dave Agema's inner circle. The smell is overpowering and how many people do the Republican's want to drive away from the party by cowering to these bullies who only represent hate and bigotry?
So anonymous #2 to be Christian, Jewish and Muslim is to be a bigot. Dave Agema is against gay marriage as are those of the aforementioned faiths. Aren't you discriminating against those faiths and isn't discrimination in itself bigotry? So would one want to be a bigot because he/she is for what is natural or be a bigot for something that is not natural and actually is a mental illness?
Are those rhetorical questions dwyer or are you just an idiot? To be a bigot is to be a bigot.
I never mentioned gay marriage…. that's more on the hate side of the equation anyways. The Muslim bashing is the bigotry aspect.
It charlatan's like yourself that hate liberty that are taking the party down.
I'd say, it's spineless, go with the flow Republicrats like Dan Benishek and Speaker Boner that are bringing the "party" down quite nicely. WE don't have to worry about a few "bad boys" like the above, the WIMPS have already destroyed any hope that Republicduds are going to change anything! Become a Constitutionalist or a Libertarian and quit messing around trying to "reform" something that is dead! Only Jesus can raise dead things!
And I'm not the same Anonymous that wrote about bigots. I would say, I'm kind of a bigot and proud of that! At least I'm honest and not a warm, fuzzy Progressive in cheap clothing.
And I am the same Anonymous that wrote about bigots. Being a bigot and being a progressive are not mutually exclusive.. indeed most of the "bad boys" being discussed here are both…seeking the power of government to preserve their privileged place at the table.
A true liberty lover doesn't have a huge issue with bigotry… because everyone is to some degree or another… it says alot that you can admit this. But when you try and impose your personal views on others… is when it becomes an issue. Liberty is yours, but not yours to take from another.
Don't drop the soap.