Former state House Speaker Lee Chatfield and his wife are accused of using nonprofit, campaign and taxpayer funds to cover their lavish lifestyle. His lawyer says there’s not enough evidence to warrant a trial.
The former House speaker is accused of using political funds to pay for a jet set lifestyle. A court heard testimony Thursday from associates who said they gave him money after cashing checks from political accounts.
Testimony began Wednesday in a preliminary exam for former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield and his wife. Both have pleaded not guilty to corruption-related charges.
Anne and Rob Minard, who worked as senior staffers to former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield, are accused of stealing more than $600,000 from political accounts.
Democrats say corruption case against former House speaker underscores need to beef up transparency laws. Republicans point out that stealing is illegal and reforms won’t prevent anything.
The former House speaker used a social welfare nonprofit and payments to his brothers to fund a lavish lifestyle, prosecutors allege. His attorney says the case is politically motivated.
The sister-in-law of the former House speaker is amid a divorce and has been abandoned after going public with assault claims, lawyer says: She’s ‘distressed beyond belief’ by Dana Nessel’s decision not to bring assault charges.
The Republican faces allegations he used nonprofits to ‘line his own pockets,’ authorities say. A sexual assault allegation from Chatfield’s sister-in-law that prompted the probe will not result in charges.
A married couple who were once top aides to former House Speaker Lee Chatfield plead not guilty to charges alleging embezzled from political action committees and nonprofits.
Two ‘power broker’ former aides accused of misappropriating campaign and nonprofit funds. Attorney General Dana Nessel says investigation into Chatfield continues.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel aims to decide by the end of the year whether to file criminal charges against former House Speaker Lee Chatfield, who is accused of sexual assault and financial improprieties. He’s denied any criminal wrongdoing.
‘Help me get this done in Michigan,’ a co-conspirator texted a key lawmaker. The latest indictment alleges pressure from the Trump campaign urging state officials to help overturn his 2020 election loss
‘We’re not twiddling our thumbs,’ the attorney general says, explaining her office plans to make wrap up the high-profile case and others by the end of 2023.
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.
