TRAVERSE CITY -- Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox accepted $2,500 from Meijer Inc.'s political action committee in March, despite knowing he'd be asked to support a local criminal investigation of the retailer's actions in Acme Township.
Cox last week declined to investigate Meijer or its agents, a decision reached just hours after a criminal referral from the Michigan secretary of state arrived in his office.
Cox refused to speak to a Record-Eagle reporter, but his spokesman, Rusty Hills, called the Meijer contribution "inconsequential."
Cox has collected about $5 million in political contributions during his years either seeking or holding elected office, said Hills, who called it "outrageous" to think a $2,500 contribution would influence a decision to prosecute.
But the donation and Cox's acceptance of the cash illustrates Lansing's political culture at its worst, said Rich Robinson, executive director of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Michigan Campaign Finance Network.
"It shows towering arrogance and stunningly bad judgment," Robinson said. "It's hard to say who is more ethically impaired, the giver or the recipient."
Meijer secretly spent more than $100,000 to manipulate two Acme Township elections -- a 2005 zoning referendum and an unsuccessful 2007 recall election that targeted the township board. Both elections were part of a years-long controversy over the Grand Rapids-area retailer's stalled efforts to build a new superstore along M-72.
Robinson said the Meijer donation doesn't seem to be consistent with its statement that they've been "humbled" by their electioneering "missteps" in Acme Township.
"This (contribution) is a core statement on behalf of the corporation," Robinson said. "It's kind of a statement that says, 'You all are stupid, and what are you going to do about it, anyway.'"
Stacie Behler, Meijer vice president for corporate communications and treasurer of the Meijer PAC, declined to comment.
Meijer has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to state politicians, including Cox and Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, who last week fined Meijer $190,000 to resolve its campaign finance act violations in Acme in what is known as a conciliation agreement.
Land then referred the matter to Cox, who declined to pursue charges, though his office didn't issue a written opinion on the Meijer case.
Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Alan Schneider wants Cox to refer the matter to him for criminal investigation. He declined to comment on Cox's acceptance of the contribution, but acknowledged being surprised by Cox's decision not to investigate Meijer.
"They were mighty quick to disclose their inability to pursue it," Schneider said. "That was a bit troubling."
Hills said a written opinion wasn't necessary.
"The reason we made the decision the same day is both the law is clear and the conciliation agreement is clear," Hills said. "Once the agreement was signed, it precluded us from taking further action."
Schneider this year launched a criminal probe into Meijer's actions in Acme, but a local circuit judge ruled state law doesn't allow county prosecutors to investigate campaign finance violations. Schneider asked Land that any deal with Meijer include specific wording that individuals are not immune from prosecution.
Land's deal clearly barred further action against Meijer Inc., the Meijer PAC and its treasurer. The agreement did not address other individuals.
Schneider will prepare a legal brief and ask Cox to reconsider his decision.
"I think the law is on our side," Schneider said. "I just need someone to interpret it correctly."
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