(CBS DETROIT) – The Michigan Bureau of Elections has shown that it is investigating the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office for allegedly violating the state’s cross-finance law.
The branch did not provide details about the investigation but said it won two court cases against the sheriff and Sheriff Michael Murphy. However, Murphy disputes those allegations.
“I don’t think he violated the financial crusade law. I welcome the investigation,” he said in a statement to CBS News Detroit.
State records show Murphy charged with breaking the law in 2018 for appearing in then-Attorney General Bill Schuette’s gubernatorial crusade video with a marked sheriff’s vehicle. Murphy was fined $100 in the state of Michigan and $100 in the county.
The ongoing investigation comes after former President Donald Trump visited the sheriff’s office on Tuesday. Trump was escorted by law enforcement, he and three cars from the sheriff’s office. The event was closed to the public.
Ahead of the event, Murphy shared the main points about Trump’s scale, clarifying that this is a press convention and not a political event.
“There will be about 150 representatives of the press here. There will be special guests who will only be invited, and when I say a few, that number will be around 70. Again, this is just a press conference; the former president comes to face the press about security and crime,” he said in a video posted on the department’s Facebook page.