GOP fundraiser pleads guilty in Unlock Michigan ‘dark money scheme’

• Sandra Baxter, a longtime Republican fundraiser, pleads guilty to providing a false statement during the Unlock Michigan campaign probe
• Baxter admitted to having lied about her relationship to the petition initiative, which sought to repeal emergency gubernatorial powers
• The misdemeanor charge carries up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500. Baxter will be sentenced in Ingham County in August.

LANSING — Longtime Republican fundraiser Sandra Baxter pled guilty Tuesday to knowingly providing false information to state investigators during a probe into an alleged “dark money scheme” that funded efforts to curb Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s authority during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Baxter, 64, was initially charged in February 2024 with perjury — a 15-year felony — after Attorney General Dana Nessel said she lied to investigators regarding her relationship with the Unlock Michigan petition initiative and then-Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake. 

As part of the deal announced Tuesday, Baxter pleaded guilty to a lesser misdemeanor charge punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. She is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 13 before Ingham County Circuit Court Judge James Jamo.

“Knowingly providing false information during an investigation undermines the integrity of our legal system,” Nessel said in a statement. “This plea makes clear that those who attempt to deceive investigators will be held accountable. My office remains committed to uncovering the truth and prosecuting individuals who obstruct justice.” 

In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Unlock Michigan launched a petition drive aimed at repealing the 1945 law Whitmer heavily leaned on to issue emergency stay-at-home orders. 

Under state campaign finance law, the names of individuals who donate to a ballot question must be made public. However it was alleged in a 2021 campaign finance complaint that Unlock Michigan was circumventing this requirement by receiving money through a nonprofit tied to Shirkey.

As part of the complaint, Bob LaBrant, a Lansing-based elections lawyer and formerly with the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, alleged Shirkey had utilized the organizations to circumvent Michigan’s disclosure requirements and raise millions of dark money dollars from secret donors.

In public filings, Unlock Michigan disclosed only that most of its funding — more than $2 million — came from two nonprofits: “Michigan! My Michigan!” which was linked to Shirkey, and "Michigan Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility.”

During the initial investigation, Baxter claimed under oath that she did not have a working relationship with Shirkey and did not have any direct contact with him about the petition drive, according to Nessel’s office. 

But emails obtained by investigators "directly contradict this," according to an affidavit by Special Agent Jennifer Kapushinski, who said the messages showed Baxter was "more involved with the systemic raising of money ... than she admitted to."

Related:

• Dana Nessel: Michigan GOP fundraisers engaged in 'dark money scheme'
• Millions poured into Michigan petition drives. Their funding is a mystery.
• Former House Speaker Lee Chatfield, wife to stand trial on corruption charges

In an Aug. 6, 2020, email, Baxter sent Shirkey a "memo she wrote regarding her thoughts on how to approach fundraising for Unlock Michigan." The message, sent directly to Shirkey, was titled "Unlock MI Memo," and included a draft contract for her fundraising services, according to the affidavit. 

Other emails showed Baxter, Shirkey and another longtime Republican fundraiser, Heather Lombardini, "discussing calls Baxter was making to donors for Shirkey and donor checks for Unlock Michigan being sent to undisclosed accounts."

The affidavit also noted that Baxter had the chance to “correct any of her testimony at the end of the interview” with Department of Attorney General investigators and was advised twice she could be subject to perjury if providing false information in the probe. 

The plea deal caps one half of the years-long investigation into Unlock Michigan, its campaign finance practices and fundraising methods.

Lombardini, a co-founder of the Lansing-based consulting firm Bright Spark Strategies, still faces three misdemeanor charges associated with violating Michigan campaign finance law, and one felony charge of uttering and publishing, for falsely signing an affidavit.

Her case is currently pending in Ingham County Circuit Court before Judge Wanda Stokes.

Nessel announced last year when bringing charges against the two women that Shirkey would not face charges in the investigation, as his name does not appear as the candidate, treasurer or person responsible for record keeping associated with the nonprofits — meaning he cannot be charged with failure to file campaign finance statements.