PONTIAC, Mich. — In recent years, stories about political corruption in Lansing mostly have involved Republicans. Think former Senate Majority Leader Rick Johnson mumbling “I am a corrupt politician,” before going to federal prison for taking bribes.

Then there’s former Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield, who, with his wife, Stephanie, has been charged with multiple counts of embezzling state funds. His sister-in-law said he also sexually molested her when she was underage, but prosecutors declined to charge because of a lack of evidence.

But some Democrats also are no strangers to corruption, as a weird scandal unfolding in Oakland County north of Detroit has revealed. Oakland is Michigan’s richest and second most populous county, with more than 1.2 million people.

Once a Republican st

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