Thread by @mbrodkorb

NEW 🧵: Over the last 25 years, I've heard and seen a lot of bizarre things in Minnesota politics. The story I'm about to share is one of the strangest I've encountered in the last few years. Follow this thread for the details.

On the evening of Thursday, March 31, 2022, a debate was taking place between the #MNGOP candidates for Minnesota Attorney General at Providence Academy in Plymouth, Minnesota. At the same time, a local Republican group was conducting their meeting across town.

A surrogate for @doug_wardlow's campaign was about to address the group of gathered Republicans. The surrogate was introduced as Marisa Colby, and she gave a speech on behalf of Wardlow's campaign. After she was done speaking, it was clear Ms. Colby was angry.

Ms. Colby was angry because she was introduced to the convention by her real name - Marisa Colby - instead of her primary alias - Ava Michaels. Ms. Colby was furious and said she would be filing a formal complaint with the Republican Party of Minnesota.

I heard about this incident a few days later and since then, I've been trying to learn more about this mysterious person using the alias of Ava Michaels. Here's what I've done and here's what I learned.

Numerous people inside the Republican Party of Minnesota know Ava Michaels. They know she is using a fake name. They have worked with her on campaigns. They frequently see her at Republican events. Most people call her Ava despite knowing this is not her real name.

I first contacted Ava via e-mail on April 8, 2022. I did not address her in my e-mail as Ava. I wrote that I was aware that she was using an alias, and that I wanted to speak with her about her involvement in politics. She did not respond.

I e-mailed her again on April 12 and again on April 13. In my e-mail of April 13, 2022, I told her that I would address her by her legal name Marisa Francesca Colby. She did not respond to these e-mails. But I knew she was receiving my e-mails.

Marisa Colby AKA "Ava Michaels" was working hard behind the scenes to get me to not report about her mysterious role in Minnesota politics. She was making frantic calls, trying to get someone to stop me from publishing anything about her involvement in Republican politics.

In total, I sent her four e-mails in the past month. I called her once, but her voicemail box was full. I sent her a text message, but she did not respond. I know that she received my messages because a flurry of phone calls would happen, but she never contacted me directly.

"Ava Michaels" is connected to numerous Republican campaigns - but I have been unable to find any campaign finance records that show payments to her or an associated business. Sources I spoke with said she raised money for Lacy Johnson's campaign for Congress in '20.

But I could not find records of any payments from Johnson's campaign to Michaels. I don't see any payments on Wardlow's campaign to Michaels. It's the same with every campaign she is connected with - no record of any payments. She's a ghost.

I've never heard of anyone using an alias in politics. I've never heard of anyone getting upset about being introduced by their real name. So I did some digging, and it didn't take long to figure out why she was using a fake name. See below. mbrdkrb.com/3wmGHX3

"Ava Michaels" is Marisa Frances Lang, who is now Marisa Francesca Colby. In 2015, Lang pleaded guilty to engaging in prostitution. According to media reports and public records, Lang's ex-husband tipped off police that she was soliciting prostitution inside their home.

Colby was sentenced to a stay of adjudication and was given probation. She had a probation violation for not verifying her "mental health treatment, counseling, and
medications..." Colby was later released from probation in 2017, having completed the conditions of her sentence.

After she was released from probation, she became active in Republican politics in Minnesota. Now, many people involved in politics have had past legal issues. This situation is unusual because of Colby's prominent proximity to campaigns and her use of numerous aliases.

I used the word "aliases" purposely. "Ava Michaels" is Marisa Frances Lang, who is Marisa Francesca Colby, and who is also "Kiki Minturno." Colby uses "Ava Michaels" and "Kiki Minturno" interchangeably as aliases. Below is a picture from Kiki Minturno's Facebook page.

I was told by numerous sources that "Kiki" was the name Colby used when raising money for Lacy Johnson's campaign. People I spoke with were told to drop off checks for "Kiki" at Johnson's campaign office. But I can find no record of Colby/Lang/Michaels/Minturno being paid.

As I noted previously in this thread, Colby did not respond to my request for comments. But I spoke with nearly a dozen people about her involvement in Republican politics. Candidates, legislators, and activists all shared their stories about "Ava."

One of my sources said they even spoke with "Ava" while she was working at an event featuring Second Lady Karen Pence - the wife of then-Vice President Mike Pence - in March 2020. MPR reported on this visit by Pence to Minnesota. See below. mbrdkrb.com/3wg6CQ8

Again, I've never heard of a person using an alias in Minnesota politics, but attempting this ruse at an event featuring the vice-president's wife is highly questionable and raises a number concerning issues.

Since I started this thread, I've received more information about Colby. I'll be adding more to this thread over the coming days. Colby's involvement with Lacy Johnson and Doug Wardlow's campaign remains an area of focus. If you have information to share, my DMs are open.

UPDATE: I received this e-mail Ava sent a source in 2021. Ava signed the e-mail with the line “Trusted Advisor to Lacy Johnson.” I can find no payments to her on Johnson’s campaign finance reports.

BREAKING: I have two major developments involving Marisa Francesca Colby. First, public records show she has multiple tax liens totaling $31,894.63. I'm speculating, but this could be why she doesn't appear on any campaign finance reports if she is actually being compensated.

Second, Colby (Lang) is currently being prosecuted in Dakota County on two felony counts of Financial Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult. This all makes much more sense now. Read more about the criminal case against Colby below. mbrdkrb.com/3FH2Xz6

TO RECAP: A surrogate speaker for Doug Wardlow's campaign uses fake names. After investigating the person, we learn she pleaded guilty to prostitution, has numerous tax liens, and is facing felony charges for financial crimes. This story is crazier than I thought.

UPDATE: I have yet to receive a response from @doug_wardlow's campaign seeking clarification about Ava Michaels. This thread began with Michaels giving a surrogate speech on behalf of Wardlow. I'd like to know what her specific role is with his campaign.

Sources have come forward with information about Michaels' involvement with Mark Bishofsky's campaign for the Minnesota House of Representatives in 33B. Below are pictures sent by a source showing Michaels at recent political events featuring Bishofsky.

I've obtained text messages showing that Ava recruited Bishofsky and serves as a campaign advisor. Her connection to Bishofsky could be a severe liability in a toss-up legislative district. I contacted Bishofsky for comment about her role in his campaign.

BREAKING: Marisa Francesca Colby, AKA Marisa Frances Lang, was elected to the upcoming @mngop State Convention under her alias of "Ava Michaels." Multiple campaigns with access to the @mngop delegate/alternate list confirmed that "Ava Michaels" is listed as a delegate.

"Ava Michaels" was elected a delegate from Senate District 33 in Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District. "Ava Michaels" as an elected delegate raises numerous issues for a political party that wants to use the battle cry of "ELECTION INTEGRITY" to mobilize their activists.

Numerous campaigns I spoke with were stunned and appalled to learn Colby was listed as a delegate under her alias. The @mngop was already dealing with numerous issues about the integrity of their precinct caucus data, but this raises it to another level.

According to the Proposed Rules for @mngop State Convention, "17) All Delegates and Alternates must properly register for the convention and will be required to provide proof of residence..." Read more -> mbrdkrb.com/3P9MJTv

in the electing unit and proof of being a legal and qualified voter in the next general election in order to receive their credentials. Accepted proof of residence listed below." Read more -> mbrdkrb.com/3P9MJTv

I've reached out to @mngop leadership in the 4th CD to inquire about Ava's status as a delegate. Based on conversations with multiple campaigns, I expect Ava's credentials to be challenged at the state convention, which begins on Friday. Stay tuned for updates.

UPDATE: I spoke with Mark Bishofsky, candidate for the Minnesota House in House District 33B. Bishofsky said Ava Michaels and others recruited him to run for office. But Bishofsky said after learning more about Michaels, she has no role in his campaign. She was never paid by him.

UPDATE: Mike Murphy was one of the people who was defending Ava Michaels before I published my tweets this week. Murphy just named Lacy Johnson as his running mate. Ava Michaels is connected to Lacy Johnson. This is a big problem for Murphy & Johnson.

https://twitter.com/toreyvanoot/status/1524847039238094880?s=20&t=2s8MD2m2gwql8412NXpO5g

UPDATE: Ava Michaels was volunteering for @doug_wardlow’s campaign in Rochester tonight. The @mngop State Convention begins tomorrow, and Michaels was seen setting up Wardlow’s hospitality room and assisting the campaign in the convention hall and surrounding area.