"It's hard to turn a mayor down," Soave testified in 2013 during Kilpatrick's trial on public corruption charges. The Little River Band needed the federal government's support and the backing of Democratic Gov. Hauck said he urged the speaker not to go forward with the resolution. Their visit to Washington comes as Trump . Michigan reports 7,483 new COVID-19 cases, 139 deaths over past week. That's unfortunate, because elected officials have an obligation to speak out on important matters, such as whether we can trust them and their staff unless the official thinks there's a chance he someday will have to invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Chatfield received a bachelor's degree from Northland International University, a Baptist college in Wisconsin, and a master's degree from Liberty University in Virginia. The photos, tweeted by journalist . Full QLD Squad. (. Im rethinking every conversation I ever had with Lee, Aaron reportedly said. Terry Burns, executive vice president of the auto dealers association, acknowledged to The News that the group never reported the arrangement because of a broad exemption in state regulations for transactions made in "the ordinary course of the lobbyist's business." The relationship between lobbyists and lawmakers in Lansing for many years has been too cozy for my taste. Dismiss. Rebekah, now 26, filed the criminal complaint with the Lansing Police Department against Lee, 33, she said in several interviews with Bridge Michigan. The actions that she took prove a consensual affair and not an assaultive relationship," Chartier also said. Catch up fast: The state investigation began in January after Chatfield's sister-in-law, Rebekah Chatfield . In his final year in office, Chatfield attempted to help GCSI secure support for a new off-reservation tribal casino in Muskegon after the firm quietly got involved on behalf of another lobbying firm through a loophole in the state's lobby law. In 2019, like politicians before him who aspired to be speaker, Wentworth set up a second PAC. Chatfield's lawyer claimed that the search was an attempt to falsely connect Chatfield to financial improprieties. Because sunlight may be the only disinfectant that will help us clean up Michigan politics. Rep. Terry Sabo, D-Muskegon, who supported the casino project near his district, said there was a "sense of urgency" among lobbyists working for the Little River Band to get something done by the end of 2020 because they felt Chatfield was in support and he was departing the Legislature by the end of that year. "And I know the only way to get justice for this is to come forward and to file a criminal [complaint] against him.". Rebekah claimed the assaults began when she was 15 or 16 years old at Northern Michigan Christian Academy, a private school in Burt Lake where Lee taught and coached soccer before he launched his political career. [4] He was fined $250 for failure to register his handgun, which he had purchased in December 2015. I didnt know there were options for therapy.. Chatfield, the youngest House speaker in more than a century, was the Republican leader for two years and was among seven Michigan GOP lawmakers whomet with then-President Donald Trump at the White Houseas Trump tried to overturn Democrat Joe Bidens win in the state. In January 2020, Daly was one of Chatfield's guests at Whitmer's 2020 State of the State address and sat on the House floor next to Rob Minard, the speaker's chief of staff, The News reported in October. Trials yield truths like contractor Tony Soave's confession: "It's good to be friends with the mayorof the city where you are working.". RT @CraigDMauger: Former Rep. Frank Foster, a Republican who pushed for this change in 2014 and lost a primary race against Lee Chatfield, is in the Senate gallery this morning. Rebekah said she finally told her husband, Aaron Chatfield, her mother and other family members in December, when she also notified police in Lansing, Michigan, who referred the complaint to Michigan State Police. State police spokesperson Shanon Banner declined to provide additional information. I couldnt see what would happen past then. Chatfield's sister-in-law, Rebekah, reportedly told investigators that her husband Aaron would cash checks from Anne Minard and give the lucre to then-Speaker Chatfield around the time he took trips to Detroit, Miami, Las Vegas, Aspen and the Bahamas. "Theres enough there," Thomas said. "I think hes kinda the perfect person to be the frontman," said Paquette, who referenced Chatfield's background as a Christian school teacher who won his seat by unseating an incumbent GOP representative. Newbury told Bridge Michigan her daughter, then 16, was "old enough to make her own decisions" and so Rebekah moved in with her father, who lived about an hour from the school and church compound in Burt Lake, Michigan. Chatfield was term limited from office in 2020. That money was used to support Republican candidates with donations of up to $10,000 and, no doubt, generate the kind of goodwill and support that helped Wentworth become speaker in 2021. It's important to note that search warrant affidavits contain what investigators think they can prove if a judge authorizes a search warrant. Representative Chatfield and other House Republican supporters believe the bill would increase economic development by keeping money in family's pockets. Rebekah acknowledged to the Bridge that at times it was she who initiated contact with Lee, but denied that it was consensual. So he would manipulate me, he would mess with my emotions.. Thanks for contacting us. Rebekah Chatfield, now 26, is married to the former lawmaker's younger brother Aaron Chatfield, also 26. Chatfield ran to the right of then-Rep. Frank Foster in a Republican primary in 2014 to win his seat in the Michigan House. Sales Representative. Minard and her husband, Rob, have been in the news since January, when their roles as key aides to Chatfield emerged in the wake of accusations that Chatfield had sexually assaulted his sister-in-law. And he walked out., After Rebekah and Aaron were married, the affair allegedly continued while the two went off to separate colleges. "What she is saying, I don't believe," Paul said, adding that "the best-case scenario is, I'm disappointed. "During their affair, this woman regularly contacted Mr. Chatfield to initiate sexual encounters, and she took steps to hide the affair from others, including her husband. 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. The Minards' lawyer, Gerry Gleeson, also declined to provide those answers. ", Former Michigan Lawmaker Accused of Sexually Assaulting Sister-in-Law When She Was a Minor, Pa. Senate Candidate Sean Parnell Loses Custody Battle amid Wife's Abuse Testimony, Suspends Campaign, Michigan Republican Is Leaving the Party Over Its Support for President Trump's Attack on the Election, Lee Chatfield's Dad Preaches About Truth as Son Faces Sex Abuse Allegation from His Sister-in-Law, Woman Who Was Allegedly Raped as Teen Loses Custody of Child to Accused Rapist, Has to Pay Child Support, Trey Songz Cleared in Las Vegas Sexual Assault Investigation: 'No Criminal Charges Will Be Filed', Chris Cuomo Accuser Claims He Assaulted Her After Offering Lunch Meeting Not True, He Says, Lawmaker Comes Forward with Other Women to Say Candidate Sexually Assaulted Her, Which He Denies, Trey Songz Accused of Raping Woman at L.A. Party in $20 Million Lawsuit, Marilyn Manson Files Defamation Suit Against Evan Rachel Wood amid Sex Abuse Allegations, Prosecutor Drops Groping Charge Against Andrew Cuomo but Says Accuser Was 'Credible', Andrew Cuomo Will Not Face Charges After Being Accused of Unwanted Kissing by 2 Women, How Matt Lauer's Life Has Changed 4 Years After He Was Fired from the 'Today' Show, Singer Lisa Gentile Accuses Chris Noth of Sexually Assaulting Her and Threatening to 'Ruin' Her Career, accused him of sexually assaulting her for years. Investigations take time, but dedicated diggers will almost always turn up the truth. Anne Minard was treasurer of each of Chatfield's PACs. Rebekah claimed she kept the incidents secret from her family and husband because she was ashamed and afraid to tell them. Lee Roberson Chatfield (born May 25, 1988) is an American politician and a Republican former member of the Michigan House of Representatives. [20] During his tenure in the Michigan House, Chatfield had opposed such an expansion, which he viewed as an infringement on religious freedom. [17], Due to term limits, Chatfield was ineligible to run for another term in the Michigan House of Representatives. Chatfield's support for the Muskegon area casino project came after he expressed his opposition to a fellow legislative leader a year earlier. Southwest Michigan First, a Kalamazoo-based economic development organization, has named former House Speaker Lee Chatfield as CEO. After he finished he said, Dont worry. He was re-elected to the state Legislature in 2016 with 67 percent of the vote, and in 2018, with over 58 percent of the vote. Governmental Consultant Services, Inc.'s logo in the window of the multi-client lobbying firm's downtown Lansing office. Minard and her husband, Rob, have been in the news since January, when their roles as key aides to Chatfield emerged in the wake of accusations that Chatfield had sexually assaulted his sister-in-law. 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.. The tribe's plans were coming to a head in 2019 and 2020 while Chatfield was speaker, the top position in the House, and the federal government was considering whether to allow the project to proceed. Last name. "No, it couldn't be further from who my man was as a person.". The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy discovered that after 10 years or a 3% reduction rate Representative Chatfield's legislation would save families who earn $0-$21k only 56 dollars a year and families that make $39k to $62k . The News' wide-ranging investigation revealed GCSI lobbyists wined and dined Chatfield like no other House speaker in the past decade, picking up the tab for thousands of dollars in free food, drink and travel that was nearly six times what the firm disclosed spending on Chatfield's three immediate predecessors combined. All players must be registered at Netball North Harbour to be eligible for trials. "GCSI advised the city they were representing a group trying to build a Muskegon casino," said Stephanie Washington, chief of staff to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, in a statement. Lee Chatfield, the one-time state House of Representatives speaker, denies any criminal wrongdoing; says sex with woman, who'd eventually wed his brother, was consensual. Lee Chatfield, speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives penned to a letter to Gov. More:5 revelations in the Chatfield investigation search warrant affidavits. [18], Chatfield's hiring caused a backlash due to Chatfield's past stances in opposition to LGBTQ rights. Chatfield has said the relationship was consensual. She also described a sense of belonging within the school and church community with the Chatfield family at its center and a culture that valued hierarchy, male superiority and sexual purity. Chatfield is notable for his homophobia. State Rep. Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, is the new Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives. LaPorte and Hawks had a close relationship with Chatfield. "If I told [the Chatfields], that would, that would ruin everything. Todd McInturf / The Detroit News. In October, The News first reported that Nessel's investigators have inquired about how three Chatfield siblings landed jobs at the same cannabis retailer that is represented by GCSI lobbyist Gary Owen. 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. I couldn't see what would happen past then. "GCSI reported it and so did Scofes.". GCSI and its employees spent $6,898 on food and drink for Chatfield over his two years as speaker. Egan reported that she did not respond to specific questions about how she would handle a conflict involving one of her husband's clients. His attorney acknowledged he had a relationship with Rebekah while he was married but said she was mischaracterizing a consensual affair between adults. Most prosecutors and judges prefer plea deals to trials. Right now, we have more questions than answers. He was speaker pro tempore from 2017 to 2019, and speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021. As an unofficial driver for his brother, who was elected to the Michigan legislature in 2014 and served three two-year terms, Aaron told Bridge Michigan he drove Lee to strip clubs and to meet up with women, including a former staffer. Owen has not responded to requests for comment about the Attorney General's affidavit. View Samantha Chatfield's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. Chris Thomas, Michigan's former 36-year elections director whose office oversaw lobbyist disclosures, said the issue of whether the representation of the Little River Band was properly disclosed would come down to the specifics of how GCSI and LaPorte were paid and whether Scofes and Associates was simply used as a "pass-through" for money from the Little River Band. The AG's affidavit reportedly also says Aaron Chatfield got Adderall for lobbyist Noel LaPorte of Capitol Advocacy Services Group. Guest Service Representative at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Greater Saginaw-Midland-Bay City Area. After three two-year terms, Chatfield's career as a state representative ended on Dec. 31, 2020 when he was term-limited. We are looking forward to building on our very successful 2022 campaign where our Opens and U14 A Team won there respective tournaments. [13][11][14], In February 2022, state police searched the home of Chatfield's former top staff members, Rob and Anne Minard. Explosive allegations about excessive political spending were revealed this week in the ongoing investigation into former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield. Steve Scofes, the owner of Scofes and Associates Consulting, said state law allows lobbyists to hire other lobbyists for projects and to report them as their own clients without the organization being represented disclosing the connection. On required lobbyist disclosures, GCSI and its clients reported spending about $18,000 on food, drink and trips for Chatfield over his six years in Lansing, an average of $3,000 in expenditures per year. Allegations of sexual assault and financial impropriety, Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, attempted to overturn the results of the presidential election, AP Interview: Chatfield says taxes at pump should fund roads, Meet the Republican Who Lost His Election Fighting for LGBT Rights, Outgoing House Speaker had big wins on auto insurance and criminal justice, but pandemic was a stumbling block, "Chatfield detained at airport after loaded gun found in carry-on", "State rep pays one fine, another to be determined", "Michigan House speaker pays $1,960 fine for gun incident at airport", "Rep. Chatfield introduces bill to eliminate pistol registration mandate", "Trump Targets Michigan in His Ploy to Subvert the Election", "Top GOP state lawmakers set to visit White House amid election fight", "GOP leader Chatfield says state's Electoral College must vote for Biden or 'we would lose our country forever", "State police investigating sexual abuse allegations against ex-Speaker Chatfield", "Former House Speaker Lee Chatfield admits affair, denies sexual assault allegations from sister-in-law", "Former Michigan lawmaker accused of molesting 14-year-old", "Lee Chatfield's Dad Preaches About Truth as Son Faces Sex Abuse Allegation from His Sister-in-Law", "Michigan State Police raid home of ex-Speaker Chatfield's top staffers", "Stateside Podcast: Lee Chatfield under investigation", "House speaker orders lawmakers, staff to retain records in light of Chatfield allegations", "Southwest Michigan First Announces Lee Chatfield as New CEO", "Former Michigan House speaker's new job spurs backlash", "Chatfield will support expanding civil rights protections in new post", "Lee Chatfield resigns from new job after pushback on LGBTQ policy positions", Speakers of the Michigan House of Representatives, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lee_Chatfield&oldid=1131863430, Republican Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 6 January 2023, at 03:20. First name. Lee Chatfield, the then-Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, speaks during a campaign rally in Muskegon, Michigan, on October 17, 2020. 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. 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. 2 Beds. Chatfield's brother Aaron reportedly told investigators that Lee Chatfield asked him to buy Adderall for a lobbyist buddy. Electoral College. Elected at age 30; he was believed to be the youngest House speaker in recent memory. Current representative: The current representative for the 107th District is Rep. Lee Chatfield (R-Levering). 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Would handle a conflict involving one of her husband 's clients they can prove a! As CEO be eligible for trials speaker Lee Chatfield ( R-Levering ) they prove! Former Michigan House of Representatives help us clean up Michigan politics in the ongoing investigation into former Michigan House his!
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