The son of a former state representative, whose family has deep roots to the Keweenaw, was arrested this week related to his presence at the United States Capitol Building on January 6th. Karl Dresch has been charged with two misdemeanors and one felony for trespassing and attempting to halt the certification of the electoral college by congress. The felony is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, but it is not clear from the affidavit filed by prosecutors that Dresch participated himself in the destruction of property or physical violence that occurred during the riot.
Dresch’s father, Stephen, was a former Dean of Business and Engineering Administration at Michigan Tech. His term was notable for exposing fraud within a venture fund at the university that was accused of harming local businesses. He would parlay that into one term in the Michigan State House before losing in the 1992 Republican primary for the UP’s federal congressional seat.
Stephen Dresch also played a role in tipping off federal officials to explosives at the residence of Terry Nichols, one of the men convicted for perpetrating the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
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