Michigan reports 7,483 new COVID-19 cases, 139 deaths over past week. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Chatfield case could reveal the depth of Michigan's political cesspool, Whitmer named to lead Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Chatfield case could reveal the depth of Michigan's political cesspool, A woman threw a house party with 65 men she matched with on Tinder and Hinge and connected with the man she's been dating for a year. In the 2019-20 session, as speaker, Chatfield again pushed to advance the legislation without success because of opposition from members of his own caucus and his staff. (Photo by Michigan House Republicans) It's more than four times what they spent on Wentworth, who succeeded Chatfield as speaker. Students attending Chatfield High School have been very upset about the recent events regarding racial discrimination. The last payments from Wentworth's PACs to Victor Strategies were made on Feb. 5, with the notation "bookkeeping no other vendor." Court records describing the new accusations were obtained by the Detroit News. January 27, 2022, 11:25 AM. And since he's term-limited and not running for another office, Wentworth doesn't even need to worry whether anything he says in the court of public opinion could be used against him. [5] He also paid a $1,960 fine from the Transportation Security Administration. He denies wrongdoing. Chatfield is notable for his homophobia. Lee, a Republican, was the youngest person to serve as Speaker of the House in Michigan in over 100 years. So he would manipulate me, he would mess with my emotions.. More:Ex-House Speaker Lee Chatfield's ties to marijuana industry getting scrutiny from investigators. Their visit to Washington comes as Trump . Rankey's LinkedIn profile says she is a former self-employed fundraising consultant who got a state job as Wentworth's director of legislative affairs before becoming his director of external affairs. Yet, former House Minority Leader Chris Greig, D-Farmington Hills, said it was common knowledge in Lansing that Chatfield was tight with GCSI's lobbyists. Chatfield was speaker of the state House from 2019 to 2020. He claimed to Bridge that hed worked in Lansing as Lees driver and would take the rising politician to strip clubs and to meet with various women, including a former staffer. According to the Bridge Michigan report, state law generally sets the age of consent for sex at 16 but it's illegal for a teacher to sexually penetrate a student under the age of 18, though there is a statute of limitations on bringing some charges. Rebekah Chatfield, who is married to the politicians younger brother, claims the former speaker assaulted her more times than I can count beginning when she was 15 years old more than a decade ago. Search warrant affidavits The Detroit News obtained this month revealed that investigators for the Michigan Attorney General suspect Chatfield of being involved in a "criminal enterprise" involving embezzlement, bribery, tax evasion and misconduct in office. "It's hard to turn a mayor down," Soave testified in 2013 during Kilpatrick's trial on public corruption charges. Become a subscriber. . She did what shes supposed to do. While police launched an investigation, reporters began digging into Chatfield's campaign accounts. 2023 Representative Information. See if you qualify! Michigan needs comprehensive reform of its lobbying laws to require better disclosure of gifts, food, drink and travel for lawmakers, said Brewer, a former Michigan Democratic Party chairman. Investigations take time, but dedicated diggers will almost always turn up the truth. Lee Chatfield. The pain, he said, goes very deep, calling his older brother the person I looked up to most in the world., Lees father, Rusy Chatfield, who founded the church and school where his son taught told Bridge the allegations are false.. Before long, it emerged that the Minards were highly-paid state employees serving Chatfield during his tenure as speaker from 2019 through 2020, while simultaneously making a fortune on the side as their company Victor Strategies helped to raise money for and elect some of the most influential Republicans in the state House. Rep. Kara Hope, D-Holt, said she was trying to create a safe work environment, but the House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, said the sign took away people's Second Amendment rights and . When I was in my darkest place, I didnt know what else to do, and he continued to remind me that I didnt have, really, anyone else but him, she said. His attorney acknowledged he had a relationship with Rebekah while he was married but said she was mischaracterizing a consensual affair between adults. "Lee portrays himself as a family tradition, conservative guy who believes in the Bible and the Bible is so important," the younger Chatfield said. The chatter grew so loud it prompted Hauck to meet with Chatfield, whose district was 200 miles from where the casino would be located. Burns also said that Chatfield sometimes used a not-for-profit social welfare organization to pay his monthly rent, which an expert said may run afoul of federal tax laws. So if I told (the Chatfields), that would, that would ruin everything. Complaints about lobbying are investigated by the Attorney General's office. In 2017, the nonpartisan Senate Fiscal Agency said the Detroit Salt Company was the only business of four road salt suppliers with state contracts that would have benefited from the change. Let's hope the Attorney General's investigators, who work for an agency headed by Democrat Dana Nessel, don't flinch if the trail leads them in the direction of other Democrats, or their allies. SOLD JUN 10, 2022. "Instead of him saying, 'Hey, you should listen to your parents' what they're supposedly preaching from these pulpits they started planting seeds in my head of why I shouldn't listen to them, and why I shouldn't trust them," Rebekah said. Mary Chartier, Chatfield's attorney, said the claims of rape are false and he is innocent. Soave testified that Hizzoner didn't pay a dime for the flights, which added up to about $400,000. , , . Along the way, investigators will likely uncover evidence that may embarrass and expose benefactors and members of both political parties. Chatfield's attorney, Mary Chartier, defended the three-term lawmaker in a statement. MACKINAC ISLAND Investigators have searched the northern Michigan home of former House Speaker Lee Chatfield, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel confirmed to Bridge Michigan on Wednesday. Some lobbying firms even have fundraising facilities in their buildings that lawmakers can use to throw parties and raise dough. House Speaker Lee Chatfield and Rep. Jim Lilly were photographed on Friday night indulging in a bottle of Dom Perignon at the hotel's Benjamin Bar & Lounge. One of those firms is Governmental Consultant Services, Inc., also known as GCSI. [17], Due to term limits, Chatfield was ineligible to run for another term in the Michigan House of Representatives. The woman who accused former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield of multiple sexual assaults since she was a teenager was revealed to be his own sister-in-law.. Rebekah Chatfield, who is married . At some point in 2020, GCSI, which had been working for the Gun Lake tribal casino located between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, and Noel LaPorte, another Lansing lobbyist who has worked with GCSI on other matters, began talking to lawmakers on behalf of the Little River Band. Lee Roberson Chatfield (born May 25, 1988) is an American politician and a Republican former member of the Michigan House of Representatives. In a joint statement, Hawks and GCSI lobbyists and co-owners Kirk Profit and Barb Farrah said their firm prides itself on "the highest level of professionalism and ethical conduct when it comes to advocating" for its clients. Scheduling an inspection. Aaron claimed to remember his older brother being handsy with his then-girlfriend when they were younger. Chatfield was a teacher, coach and athletic director at the school. IE 11 is not supported. I had a lot of family stuff going on in my life, she told Bridge. In mid-February 2021, after leaving office, Chatfield was appointed as the new CEO of Southwest Michigan First, a privately funded economic development organization covering the seven counties of southwest Michigan (Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren). The caucus formally elected Wentworth, 38, Thursday afternoon . State Representative Tyrone Carter (D-Detroit) said the House can't punish Chatfield. 03 9328 . She went to the immediate jurisdiction that she thought was appropriate, White said. "Theres enough there," Thomas said. LaPorte declined to comment for this article. [2][3] Chatfield criticized Foster for supporting Medicaid expansion[3] and for supporting an extension of Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in housing and employment.[2]. Most relevant. Representative Chatfield and other House Republican supporters believe the bill would increase economic development by keeping money in family's pockets. The woman who accused former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield of multiple sexual assaults since she was a teenager was revealed to be his own sister-in-law. Jack "Jackey" Chatfield is an American politician, businessman, and rancher, currently serving as a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives. There is no job too small or too great that doesn't equally impact our future. Rebekah said Lee would find reasons to text her late at night, and enter the guest room and grope her. [19], Following the backlash from his hiring, Southwest Michigan First and Chatfield stated that they would support expanding the state's civil rights act (the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act) to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, a stance that the Southwest Michigan First board had voted in 2017 to support. Chatfield was a master of this; he had four PACs. Chatfield was never listed as the primary sponsor of the bills but privately pressured other lawmakers to support them, according to four legislators who declined to be identified for fear of retribution. On one occasion two years ago, Rebekah said she and Aaron were visiting Lees officewhen he asked Aaron to go pick up a pizza. During Chatfield's tenure, lobbyists from GCSI became a regular presence within the speaker's office and occasionally consumed alcohol there with Chatfield, according to four sources who had routine interactions with Chatfield but declined to be identified because of concerns about GCSI's ongoing influence over state government. Shirkey and Representative Lee Chatfield, the top two Republican leaders of Michigan's legislative chambers, are set to meet with Trump on Friday. I didnt know there were options for therapy.. "GCSI reported it and so did Scofes.". 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