A timeline of events in the Meijer-Acme saga is below.
The Grand Traverse County Prosecutor stands before the state Court of Appeals in Lansing Wednesday, arguing for the right to investigate whether certain Meijer officials broke the law, as the company secretly influenced a couple recent Acme Township elections.
So far, the Grand Traverse County prosecutor does not have a case against any Meijer officials. He wants the power to investigate whether charges are warranted.
But his investigation was dealt a blow a year ago in April, when a local judge found that state campaign finance law was written in such a way so as to exempt those who break it from the scrutiny of local prosecutors.
The only other way to pursue a criminal investigation would be through the state Attorney General, and A.G. Mike Cox is not investigating.
A person convicted of criminal campaign finance violations could get months, or even years behind bars.
The state has already fined the corporation more than $190,000. In secret, it helped to defeat a moratorium on big box development back in 2005. Meijer also quietly attempted in 2007 to orchestrate a recall of the entire township board.
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