Former Michigan GOP Chair Laura Cox told supporters  there is “clear evidence” Ron Weiser made a “secret deal” to get Shelby Township Clerk Stan Grot to drop out of the 2018 race for Michigan Secretary of State.

Citing an internal investigation, GOP Chair Laura Cox claimed Stan Grot was paid $200,000 over seven months from the Michigan Republican Party’s administrative account.

She called it a “sleazy payoff.” The $200,000 Grot payoff was the Michigan Republican Party’s money and so added to the $940,000 State GOP debt.

Shelby Township Clerk Stan Grot refused to meet with TV Channel 7 Reporter Jim Kiertzner who traveled the Shelby Township hall.

Three days after he dropped out of the Secretary of State race, the Michigan GOP paid Grot the first of six $10,000 installments from the party’s administrative account, according to Cox.  Grot received another lump sum of $140,000 two weeks before Weiser relinquished the party to Cox in early 2019, Cox claimed.

Grot said he was paid for work he did for the party.

Former Michigan GOP Chair Laura Cox  said Grot “did not do any documented work” to justify the $200,000 in payments, which is more than Grot earns annually ($85,000) as Shelby Township clerk

Cox suggested the administrative account payments to Grot could be deemed a violation of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act by the GOP party, Weiser or Grot.

“This is deeply troubling,” Jason Watts, a prominent west Michigan GOP activist. “To undermine our SoS nominee by executing an illegal transfer of Party administrative funds hurts our Party, our candidates, & our brand.”