Prominent Lansing fundraiser arraigned on campaign finance charges

Lansing — Heather Lombardini, one of the top Republican fundraisers in Michigan politics, was arraigned Thursday in Ingham County District Court on charges that she violated campaign finance law and created a false document after officials began investigating.

Lombardini, 47, of Okemos said little as she appeared before Magistrate Laura Millmore. Lombardini's lawyer, Gerald Gleeson, had the court enter a not guilty plea on Lombardini's behalf.

She was released on a $1,000 bond. Her preliminary examination is currently scheduled for April 5, but Gleeson indicated it would be delayed.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel revealed the allegations against Lombardini on Feb. 21. For nearly two years, Nessel's office had been scrutinizing the movement of about $2.7 million from two nonprofit organizations tied to state Senate Republicans to the Unlock Michigan ballot proposal campaign, which gathered signatures to diminish Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's emergency powers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Because the $2.7 million came from nonprofits — one called Michigan Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility and one called Michigan! My Michigan! — the identity of the sources of the money never had to be disclosed.

Nessel's office alleged that Lombardini and fellow fundraiser, Sandra Baxter of Caledonia, along with then-Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, were involved in an effort to conceal the names of the contributors and evade campaign finance requirements.

"Heather Lombardini routinely facilitated the logistics of these contributions, and on at least one occasion solicited a contribution herself," an affidavit from the Attorney General's office said.

Shirkey wasn't charged.

Lombardini, co-founder of the Lansing-based consulting firm Bright Spark Strategies, is facing three misdemeanor violations of the state's campaign finance law and a 14-year felony of uttering and publishing — willfully making or publishing a false statement with the intent to defraud.

The felony was tied to Lombardini signing an affidavit, denying that funds had been solicited through the nonprofit Michigan Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility for the purpose of giving the dollars to Unlock Michigan.

The Detroit News first reported on the mystery money flowing to Unlock Michigan on July 27, 2020.

Lombardini's campaign finance charges are two counts of failing to file a campaign finance statement of organization, which would bring a $1,000 fine, and one count of failing to file a campaign statement, a misdemeanor that could involve up to 90 days in jail.

Baxter has been charged with one count of perjury. Her arraignment is scheduled for April 17, according to court records.

cmauger@detroitnews.com