Attorney General Dana Nessel has repeatedly called for greater government transparency. But in high-profile criminal cases in her own office she has successfully fought to keep records on government searches hidden, even after they are introduced in court.
Bridge Michigan, Free Press fighting to make public search warrants in ongoing investigation; a judge rules that Attorney General Dana Nessel's office doesn't need to provide clarity over when that might happen.
A lawyer from Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office told a judge that ‘federal agencies’ are now helping the state investigate Chatfield, who has denied accusations of sexual assault and financial wrongdoing.
Michigan’s governor hasn’t achieved breakthroughs on transparency and ethics reforms that she proposed in her 2018 campaign. But after winning re-election, Whitmer said she is ready to work with Democratic legislative majorities to get it done.
In seeking to suppress search warrant records in the criminal probe, the attorney general’s office argues that some current and ex-state officials, appointees and lobbyists could be embarrassed if the records are made public.
Bridge Michigan and the Detroit Free Press are asking a judge to reconsider an order that indefinitely blocks public access to records in the criminal probe of former House Speaker Lee Chatfield.
After Bridge Michigan and the Detroit Free Press won access to documents that would shed new light on the criminal investigation against the former house speaker, Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office obtained a court order blocking release of virtually all records in the case.
A spokesperson for Dana Nessel’s office said the criminal investigation prompted by allegations of sexual assault by Chatfield’s sister-in-law remains “open and ongoing.”
An investigation that began with a sexual-assault complaint against the former Michigan House Speaker has expanded to financial records tied to campaign and nonprofit funds, and the roles of two close Chatfield associates, Rob and Anne Minard.
After Pastor Rusty Chatfield refused to cooperate with Michigan State Police investigators, officers obtained a warrant to seize “any and all” documents related to Lee Chatfield’s employment at the church and school.
The renewed ethics push would ban junkets and relatives on payroll and comes on the heels of allegations that the former House speaker misused political funds and traveled frequently.
Stephanie Chatfield released a statement Thursday acknowledging her husband’s infidelities, including with sister-in-law Rebekah Chatfield. But she challenged Rebekah’s account that Lee assaulted her as an underage student.
Troopers have executed at least two search warrants in the past week of associates of the former House speaker, who is under investigation following sex abuse allegations.
Anne and Rob Minard were senior staffers for the former House speaker. She ran a nonprofit tied to Chatfield that spent nearly a half-million on travel, while a business connected to the pair was paid $1 million by Republicans.
The Michigan Senate is negotiating changes to House approved ethics reforms and considering tighter rules for political funds in the wake of sexual and financial allegations against former House Speaker Lee Chatfield.
A spokesperson for Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office said the agency is assisting state and local police following allegations that the former Michigan House speaker sexually assaulted a then-underage student at the Christian school where he taught.
The former House speaker and associates raised millions in campaign cash and dark money. Now, spending on food, travel and a connected company is under scrutiny as he faces assault claims.
Michigan law requires educators to immediately report suspected abuse. But when a 13-year-old told Northern Michigan Christian Academy officials her teacher sexually assaulted her in 2004, they didn’t call police or child protection workers.
Lawyers for Rebekah Chatfield are racing to ensure that no records relating to her claim that Lee Chatfield sexually assaulted her are destroyed as her legal team gathers evidence for a possible lawsuit against the former Michigan House speaker.
