Woman heads to trial for role in ‘dark money’ scheme connected to former Senate leader Shirkey

One of the defendants charged for their part in an alleged “dark money” scheme connected to the right-wing group “Unlock Michigan” will stand trial.

Sandy Baxter, 64, of Caledonia was bound over on Monday by Judge Kristen Simmons of 54A District Court in Lansing on one count of Perjury, sending the case to Ingham County’s 30th Circuit Court where she is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 21.

The felony charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, was filed in February after authorities say Baxter lied while under oath during testimony to state prosecutors and special agents investigating a plan to fund a ballot question initiative put forth by Unlock Michigan, which protested COVID-era health orders. 

“Misleading state investigators while providing testimony under oath is a serious crime with significant legal penalties,” said Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, whose office filed the charge. “Perjury undermines our ability to seek the truth and, ultimately, justice.” 

Nessel previously said Baxter and a second defendant, Heather Lombardini, were involved with fundraising for Michigan! My Michigan! (MMM), a nonprofit organization with ties to former Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) and other Republican lawmakers. 

The investigation began after Robert LaBrant filed a complaint in May 2021 alleging a “dark money scheme” to fund the Unlock Michigan ballot question initiative.

Between MMM and Michigan Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility (MCFR), of which Lombardini was president, the two nonprofits contributed over $2.6 million in funding to Unlock Michigan, almost 86% of the total funding.

“But for that funding the Unlock petition drive never would have occurred,” claimed LaBrant.

Nessel said Shirkey and Lombardini solicited contributions for the Unlock Michigan petition to repeal 1945 Emergency Power rules that Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer utilized for emergency health orders to curb the spread of COVID-19 in 2020, which courts determined later was unconstitutional. 

However, Michigan Campaign Finance laws were alleged to have been violated when Lombardi, acting as treasurer of MMM and president of MCFR, failed to file disclosures for donors to the groups which funded nearly the entirety of Unlock Michigan’s efforts.

Shirkey was not charged in the probe, while Lombardini was charged with two misdemeanor counts of failing to file campaign statements and one count of uttering and publishing, a 14-year felony. 

She has a preliminary exam on those charges set for this Thursday, also in front of Simmons.