Preceded by Martha G. Scott Political party Democratic | Name Bert Johnson | |
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Residence Highland Park, Michigan | ||
Bert Johnson is a Democratic member of the Michigan Senate, representing the 2nd district since 2010. During his service as state representative, he was Chair of the Detroit Caucus, which is composed of the twelve state representatives and five state senators whose districts include a part of the city of Detroit. He was also Chair of the House Committee on Regulatory Reforms and sat on the Health Policy, Energy and Technology, Banking and Financial Services and Public Employee Health Care Reform committees.
Contents
- Legal Troubles
- Political Experience
- Current Legislative Committees
- State senator bert johnson press conference 7 26 12
- References
After his election to the Michigan Senate in 2010, to replace departing senator Martha G. Scott, who was unable to run again due to term limits, he was named the campaign chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus.
Legal Troubles
Johnson is a convicted felon, having been convicted of armed robbery in 1993 when he was 19-years-old and served 8 months in prison. In 2015, a bench warrant was issued for arrest in Illinois over an unpaid bill with a political consulting firm, the matter was resolved without Johnson's arrest but Johnson has yet to pay any of the $21,000 debt. He also has had numerous issues with campaign finance reporting with the Michigan Secretary of State's office and owes $4,000 in late fees. He was also evicted from a campaign office in 2010 for not paying rent and paid a $7,446 judgment against him in 2015.
In March 2017, Johnson's home and Senate office was searched in a raid conducted by the FBI and Michigan State Police. In April 2017, Johnson was indicted by a grand jury on federal charges of conspiracy and theft, for using federal funds to pay a "ghost employee" on his Senate payroll who did no actual work. On April 18, 2017, Johnson was arraigned in front of U.S. Magistrate David R. Grand in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, pleaded not guilty and was released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bail. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
With his indictment, Johnson became the third Democrat from Detroit in the Michigan legislature to face felony charges in little more than a 12-month period. In April 2016, state Sen. Virgil Smith pleaded guilty to malicious destruction of property due to a domestic incident where he shot an AR-15 at his ex-wife's car. He resigned and served 10 months in jail. In February 2017, state Rep. Brian Banks pleaded guilty to a reduced misdemeanor charge involving fraudulently obtaining a private loan in 2010. Banks resigned and served one day in jail.
Due to his indictment, a recall petition was filed against Johnson by Robert Davis, a convicted felon and political litigious activist.
Political Experience
Bert Johnson has had the following political experience:
Current Legislative Committees
Bert Johnson has been a member of the following committees: