With Democrats set to take control in the Michigan House of Representatives in 2023, Democratic leadership has reaffirmed their commitment to investigating former House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Levering).
House Democrats began calling for a bipartisan committee to investigate Chatfield’s conduct in office in March, following allegations that Chatfield sexually abused his sister-in-law beginning when she was 15, directed campaign funds to family members and legislative staffers, and gave staff in his office $300,000 in taxpayer-funded bonuses.
Michigan State Police began investigating these allegations in December 2021 and completed its investigation in September, turning the probe over to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. The attorney general’s office investigation is ongoing.
Based on court documents that were temporarily made public, the Detroit News reported Chatfield was being investigated in connection to an alleged “criminal enterprise” including “embezzlement, campaign finance violations, bribery, the use, possession and delivery of controlled substances, misconduct in office and income tax evasion.”
Prior to the election, Democrats called on the House Republican Campaign Committee to return more than $815,000 in campaign contributions from Chatfield. Among the contributions were $407,900 to the House Republican Campaign Committee, $138,500 to Speaker Jason Wentworth (R-Farwell), and $39,600 to Rep. Shane Hernandez (R-Port Huron), who ran for lieutenant...
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday rejected the claims of Congress MLAs from Tamil Nadu being shifted to a resort in Bengaluru post Assembly elections. He further said that ...