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Planet News

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Parent Issue
Day
15
Month
November
Year
1974
Additional Text

One of the oddest elections yet took place in Pontiac, Michigan, where an undercover FBI informer ran as a member of the United States Labor Party

The informer, Vernon Higgins, joined the radical party last spring-explaining at the time that he was a former right winger who had become a socialist.

Higgins then became active in party affairs and turnout to be one of the U.S. Labor Party's best organizer's. As a result, his name was placed on the ballot as the Party's candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives.

Higgins cover was blown recently when his name appeared on a search warrant application, where he was identified as a "FBI confidential informant."

Shortly after the warrant was obtained, FBI agents raided the Party Headquarters and searched files.

Following the disclosure, it was too late for Party members to remove Higgins' name from the official ballot. Higgins had not attended any party function or done any campaigning since his true mission was uncovered.

-Zodiac