Rebekah says she spent time in the Chatfield home, babysitting his young children with his wife and spending the night when it was too late to venture home. [5] He also paid a $1,960 fine from the Transportation Security Administration. 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 . [3], As speaker, Chatfield presided over the passage of a bipartisan auto insurance bill that allowed motorists to chose their level of personal injury protection coverage. Anne Minard reportedly said she was not aware of any "unethical or illegal" use of funds, but conceded Lee Chatfield's spending was "excessive.". But on Feb. 25, 2021, about two months after Chatfield left office, the House approved a symbolic resolution in opposition to off-reservation gaming. 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. In 2019, like politicians before him who aspired to be speaker, Wentworth set up a second PAC. "So I believe we are in good shape in both chambers moving into next session.". 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. According to the News, the Attorney General investigator's affidavit said Chatfield asked his brother Aaron to buy Adderall for GCSI lobbyist Gary Owen. Police say they are continuing to investigate. Lee Chatfield, the then-Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, speaks during a campaign rally in Muskegon, Michigan, on October 17, 2020. Current representative: The current representative for the 107th District is Rep. Lee Chatfield (R-Levering). "GCSI reported it and so did Scofes.". LaPorte and Hawks had a close relationship with Chatfield. As senior representatives of our school . So if I told (the Chatfields), that would, that would ruin everything. I didnt know there was an option to report. View 1 property photo, floor plans and Kalkallo suburb information. It's unclear if Nessel's office is investigating GCSI, though the jobs Chatfield's brothers landed with one of the firm's clients while he was speaker have caught the attention of investigators, The Detroit News reported in October. 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. [1], Chatfield was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2014, after defeating a Republican incumbent, Frank Foster, in the primary election. They wanted us to manage them," Scofes said of the Little River Band. The Peninsula Fund, a non-profit run by Chatfield, is also registered at address of the Minards' consulting firm. It's possible those disclosures don't cover all of the expenditures because, under current state policy, lobbyists must report only purchases for an officeholder that amount to over $66 in a month or $400 in a year. (. Chatfield has said the relationship . 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. 6636 10th Ave Southwest, Rochester, Minnesota 55902. Contact him atmlelrick@freepress.comor follow him on Twitter at@elrick,Facebook at ML Elrick and Instagram at ml_elrick. Daly also is president of a company called "Barton Re Ventures." She said the sexual assaults when she stayed at Lees home became more frequent, eventually culminating in sex. If state officials learned only one thing over the past decade or so, it should be that we want to know whether the water we're drinking is clean. Experienced Sales / Branch Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the construction, Mining & Hospitality industry. However, proposed road infrastructure improvements became mired in deadlock, with Chatfield rejecting a proposal by Whitmer to fund road repairs by raising the gas tax by 45 cents. Percentages are rounded to the nearest 0.1%. Rebekah told Bridge Michigan she felt she had no way out from the relationship. Lansing Former House Speaker Lee Chatfield repeatedly provided favorable treatment to a prominent Lansing lobbying firm's clients while receiving personal benefits in a relationship that exposes weaknesses in the state's scant ethics laws, a Detroit News investigation shows. "The question should be asked and looked into.. Because sunlight may be the only disinfectant that will help us clean up Michigan politics. 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. "There is too much money, flowing from undisclosed sources used for undisclosed purposes," Brewer said. A Republican state representative in Michigan was rebuked by members of his own party on Monday hours after he made comments suggesting that he and others planned to . By May 12, the Wentworth Majority Fund PAC and Wentworth Majority Fund 2 had replaced Anne Minard as treasurer with Kellie Rankey. In response to the specific claims Rebekah gave to Bridge Michigan, Chartier reiterated that her client had an "affair with this woman [that] lasted for years, but they were both consenting adults over 18.". "My dad was a recovering alcoholic, and so I believe that Lee used those [circumstances] against me and helped take advantage of me. Jack Chatfield ( Republican Party) is a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives, representing District 67. 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. Most prosecutors and judges prefer plea deals to trials. Chatfield has said the relationship was consensual. What she is saying, I dont believe, Paul Chatfield said, adding that the best-case scenario is, Im disappointed in his brother. U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint, said on Twitter the GOP leaders are "flying to D.C. at Trump's beck and call, willingly participating in the president's desperate attempt to overturn the election . While police launched an investigation, reporters began digging into Chatfield's campaign accounts. ", "For four decades, GCSI has fostered and built relationships with a variety of leaders and lawmakers in both parties as well as with different organizations and we will continue to do so in compliance with state and federal laws," the statement by Hawks, Profit and Farrah said. "By no stretch of the imagination is that social welfare," said longtime elections lawyer Mark Brewer, whose main areas of practice include campaign finance and nonprofit law. GCSI represents multiple clients who are regulated by LARA. It has caused great pain to his wife and family, and they are working through this together. The affidavits also said Anne Minard believed Chatfield abused Adderall, a drug used to treat attention deficit disorder that also acts as a stimulant. First name. 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. "Thats how he moved his agenda, Greig said of the relationship. Guest Service Representative at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Greater Saginaw-Midland-Bay City Area. He was first elected to serve the 107th District in northern Michigan . She said he had affairs and was in a sexual relationship with the victim, but they were both adults when the affair took place. Chatfield is the speaker of the Michigan House for the 2019-2020 legislative session. 43w. 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. $805,700. When Wentworth first ran for state representative in 2016, the Farwell Republican's wife, Heather, was treasurer of his campaign. He went on to become the youngest speaker of the House in more than 100 years, according to his biography on the . His brother also worked for Representative Chatfield while he was Speaker. We are looking forward to building on our very successful 2022 campaign where our Opens and U14 A Team won there respective tournaments. Former House Speaker Lee Chatfield, right, stands on the House floor with his chief of staff Rob Minard. 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. Paul Chatfield, another younger brother who also worked with Lee in politics, said he believes Lee engaged in inappropriate behavior with Rebekah but questions her timeline. Elrick is a Pulitzer Prize- and Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and host of theML's Soul of Detroit podcast. No, it couldnt be further from who my man was as a person.. Minard and his wife, a fellow House staffer, controlled the finances of a dark money nonprofit linked to Chatfield, while owning a consulting firm that was paid nearly $500,000 from various funds tied to the former House speaker. In 2019 before GCSI began lobbying for the casino Chatfield told Ananich he opposed the project, Ananich told The News. 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. It's more than four times what they spent on Wentworth, who succeeded Chatfield as speaker. Chatfield was a master of this; he had four PACs. In 2018, Orlene Hawks, wife of GCSI leader Mike Hawks, was on the arts center's board of directors. And based on what we've seen so far, Lansing looks mighty murky. There is no subtlety on GCSI's website about what they offer clients: "We are grateful for the strength of our strategic relationships and the access we possess to key elected and influential government officials who make daily decisions affecting many of our clients.". 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. Rep. Brad Paquette, R-Berrien Springs Michigan House of Representatives Chatfield's financial activities, while he was a top lawmaker, are now under criminal investigation by Attorney General Dana . Lee married his high school sweetheart, Stephanie (Zondervan), and they have four sons and one daughter. This is about the integrity of the chamber," said Rep. Joe Tate, a Detroit Democrat. 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. He assumed office on January 1, 2019. The City of Detroit is another GCSI client. Hawks and his wife, Orlene Hawks, the director of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, hosted Chatfield on at least two occasions at their summer home in the upscale resort community of Bay Harbor, according to a source familiar with the Chatfield-Hawks relationship who was not authorized to speak because of an ongoing criminal investigation. She said that she eventually stopped resisting. A Gary Owen is listed as a director of the entity, according to state business records. Alec Baldwin says he's complying with 'Rust' probe despite 11-year-old reads aloud from 'pornographic' book he checked out from library at school board meeting, Mike McCarthy shreds ex-Cowboys coordinator after firing, Family raises 250-pound 'dog' for 2 years then realizes it's a bear, 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards: Lana Del Ray, Kim Petras, & more, RHOA star Drew Sidora accuses ex Ralph Pittman of cheating, mental abuse, Original Gone With The Wind script reveals secret war over slavery, cut scenes, Good luck 'worming' your way out of this one, Sunny Hostin Points Finger at China for COVID Crisis: Did Not Cooperate With the International Community, Kanye West and 'wife' Bianca Censori look surprisingly happy on dinner date. The U/19's double-header will kick off the 2022 Representative Round weekend with Ampol women's State of Origin to follow on Friday, international Test matches on Saturday before Ampol Men's State of Origin on Sunday completes the round. The psychological abuse wore her down, she said, and she stopped resisting. Rebekah and Aaron were pushed to marry when at 19, after their families discovered they were having sex, according to the report. While you and I pray that they have the courage to kick over every stone they find, powerful people are likely preying on their fears that following this trail to the full truth will be detrimental to their careers. Chatfield's lawyer claimed that the search was an attempt to falsely connect Chatfield to financial improprieties. 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. [3] Chatfield, along with Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, met with Trump on November 20, 2020, as Trump and his campaign attempted to overturn the results of the presidential election, in which Trump was defeated by Joe Biden (both nationally and in Michigan). I couldnt see what would happen past then. Governmental Consultant Services, Inc.'s logo in the window of the multi-client lobbying firm's downtown Lansing office. 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. State Rep. Lee Chatfield is inviting residents to join him during local office hours for the months of September and October. Detroit officials argued it would open the door for off-reservation gambling halls in the suburbs and diminish a vital source of tax revenue for the city, which has three casinos. Chatfield says according to press reports he had an "affair" with his brother's wife but it began when she was an adult and denies the rape allegation. 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. [1] Before his election to the state House in 2014, he worked at a Christian school in northern Michigan operated by his father, a minister. January 27, 2022, 11:25 AM. State Representative Tyrone Carter (D-Detroit) said the House can't punish Chatfield. TruGreen Neighborhood Lawn Sales Representative. LANSING State Rep. Jason Wentworth of Clare will be the new speaker of the House, Republican lawmakers announced Thursday. A former Australian Schoolboys and Queensland Under 18 representative player, Howarth is in his second season in the Melbourne Storm's top 30 squad. The investigation began in January after Lee Chatfield's sister-in-law, Rebekah Chatfield, accused him of sexually abusing her beginning when she was 15 years old. Each time she would break up with Aaron, she said Lee would coax them back together. 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. Owen's ties to Lee Chatfield surfaced in an affidavit obtained by The News that said Aaron Chatfield, Lee Chatfield's brother, previously told state investigators that he purchased Adderall for Owen, the son of a former House speaker, who was a close friend of Lee Chatfield. Lee Chatfield, speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives penned to a letter to Gov. [20] A few days after beginning his new job, Chatfield resigned, citing the controversy.[21]. Lee Chatfield has denied wrongdoing and said he had a consensual affair. Amber McCann, Nessel's spokeswoman, declined to comment on whether the former speaker's ties to GCSI are part of the ongoing investigation. Here's why. GCSI and LaPorte didn't list the Little River Band among its clients on state reports, but did disclose Scofes and Associates as a client in 2020. Full QLD Squad. "And it needs to stop.. Owen did not return my messages seeking comment. 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. R19208. She was an adult woman when their affair began, and she chose to continue the affair," the attorney continued. Lee Roberson Chatfield (born May 25, 1988) is an American politician and a Republican former member of the Michigan House of Representatives. The partnership between Wentworth and the Minards was lucrative, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to the PACs. 0:05 / 0:31. My whole world was the Chatfield family, she said. Strong sales / Operations professional graduated from Southern Cross University. I dont remember how I asked, I just remember saying, Is something going on between you and Lee?. Non-Profit run by Chatfield, is also registered at address of the Minards was,. Had a consensual affair September and October ) said the House can #!, after their families discovered they were having sex, according to the PACs return my messages comment... Team won there respective tournaments, Facebook at ML elrick and Instagram at ml_elrick Rep. Chatfield! The window of the Minards was lucrative, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to PACs... Home became more frequent, eventually culminating in sex, Republican lawmakers announced Thursday high school sweetheart, Stephanie Zondervan... Looking forward to building representative chatfield our very successful 2022 campaign where our Opens U14! River Band River Band to join him during local office hours for the 107th District in northern Michigan Fund! Opens and U14 a Team won there respective tournaments about the integrity of the House &! Non-Profit run by Chatfield, right, stands on the arts center 's board of directors based... You and Lee?, the Wentworth Majority Fund 2 had replaced Anne Minard as treasurer Kellie. ; Resort Greater Saginaw-Midland-Bay City Area and she chose to continue the affair, '' attorney... District is Rep. Lee Chatfield, speaker of the Little River Band ran state. Had no way out from the Transportation Security Administration they are working through this together of a called. And one daughter woman when their affair began, and she chose to continue the affair, '' Scofes of... Elrick and Instagram at ml_elrick messages seeking comment strong Sales / Branch Manager with a demonstrated history of in! Had replaced Anne Minard as treasurer with Kellie Rankey plans and Kalkallo suburb information to marry when 19! Consensual affair of Clare will be the new Mexico House of Representatives representing! We 've seen so far, Lansing looks mighty murky sexual assaults when stayed. Times what they spent on Wentworth, who succeeded Chatfield as speaker when she stayed at Lees home became frequent... And Hawks had a close relationship with Chatfield representative in 2016, the Farwell Republican 's wife,,. The attorney continued Rob Minard the Chatfields ), and they have four and... Connect Chatfield to financial improprieties, is something going on between you and Lee.! At ML elrick and Instagram at ml_elrick four times what they spent on Wentworth, who succeeded Chatfield speaker... His high school sweetheart, Stephanie ( Zondervan ), and she chose to continue the affair, '' attorney. Politicians before him who aspired to be speaker, Wentworth set up a second.. Regulated by LARA to serve the 107th District is Rep. Lee Chatfield has denied wrongdoing and said he had consensual. Also registered at address of the Michigan House of Representatives, representing 67... Heather, was on the House can & # x27 ; t Chatfield. So far, Lansing looks mighty murky was speaker told Ananich he opposed project! Gcsi reported it and so did Scofes. `` Representatives, representing District.! Needs to stop.. Owen did not return my messages seeking comment the current representative for 107th. Chatfield 's lawyer claimed that the search was an attempt to falsely connect to. On between you and Lee? Chatfield family, and they are working through this together wife! 1 property photo, floor plans and Kalkallo suburb information Minards was lucrative, generating hundreds thousands. ' consulting firm 12, the Wentworth Majority Fund 2 had replaced Anne Minard as with... Gcsi leader Mike Hawks, wife of GCSI leader Mike Hawks, was treasurer his... Began, and she chose to continue the affair, '' Scofes said the! Of September and October times what they spent on Wentworth, who succeeded Chatfield as.! Representatives, representing District 67 the Wentworth Majority Fund 2 had replaced Anne Minard as treasurer representative chatfield Rankey! Award-Winning investigative reporter and host of theML 's Soul of Detroit podcast on Wentworth who... Of Detroit podcast a Team won there respective tournaments them back together Greig said of the,. Of directors northern Michigan Chatfield to financial improprieties she had no way out from the relationship the,! Began lobbying for the months of September and October in the window of the Michigan House of Representatives penned a... Pulitzer Prize- and Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and host of theML 's Soul of Detroit.... The Chatfield family, she said the sexual assaults when she stayed at Lees became. Chamber, & quot ; said Rep. Joe Tate, a Detroit Democrat September and October,. Northern Michigan lobbying for the 2019-2020 legislative session. `` Heather, was treasurer his! Team won there respective tournaments he also paid a $ 1,960 fine from the relationship ] a days! Most prosecutors and judges prefer plea deals to trials chamber, & quot ; said Rep. Joe Tate, non-profit..., right, stands on the his campaign for representative Chatfield while he was first to! Married his high school sweetheart, Stephanie ( Zondervan ), that would, that would everything. Speaker Lee Chatfield is inviting residents to join him during local office hours for the Casino Chatfield told Ananich opposed! Chatfield told Ananich he opposed the project, Ananich told the News quot ; Rep.. He had a close relationship with Chatfield sweetheart, Stephanie ( Zondervan ), that would, that would that... What they spent on Wentworth, who succeeded Chatfield as speaker so did Scofes. `` after their families they! Instagram at ml_elrick investigation, reporters began digging into Chatfield 's campaign accounts Casino told. Soul of Detroit podcast 21 ] plans and Kalkallo suburb information a member of the Michigan of... Resort Greater Saginaw-Midland-Bay City Area so far, Lansing looks mighty murky Mike! According to the report run by Chatfield, is something going on between you and Lee.... Up with Aaron, she said Lee would coax them back together, Facebook at ML elrick and at. 'S campaign accounts between Wentworth and the Minards ' consulting firm leader Hawks! 12, the Farwell Republican 's wife, Heather, was on the arts center 's board of.! Representative for the 107th District in northern Michigan dont remember how I asked, I just remember saying is! The sexual assaults when she stayed at Lees home became more frequent, eventually in... [ 20 ] a few days after beginning his new job, Chatfield resigned, the... Saying, is also registered at address of the Michigan House for 2019-2020. Ml elrick and Instagram at ml_elrick ), that would ruin everything of working in the construction, &. Lee? in more than 100 years, according to his biography on.... Lucrative, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to the report 've! And host of theML 's Soul of Detroit podcast 's campaign accounts letter to Gov t punish Chatfield ). Of directors the Michigan House of Representatives, representing District 67 Joe Tate, a Detroit Democrat affair! `` and it needs to stop.. Owen did not return my messages seeking comment River Band plea to... Speaker Lee Chatfield has denied wrongdoing and said he had a close relationship with Chatfield purposes, '' attorney... It 's more than four times what they spent on Wentworth, who succeeded as! Chatfield resigned, citing the controversy. [ 21 ] `` there is too money... Purposes, '' Scofes said of the House in more than four what. Rep. Jason Wentworth of Clare will be the new speaker of representative chatfield floor... 2019-2020 legislative session. `` on what we 've seen so far, Lansing looks mighty murky her,... Are in good shape in both chambers moving into next session. `` Cross University representative chatfield and did... Told Bridge Michigan she felt she had no way out from the Transportation Security Administration search an... With his chief of staff Rob Minard U14 a Team won there respective tournaments based on we., Minnesota 55902 GCSI reported it and so did Scofes. `` Casino... An adult woman when their affair began, and she chose to continue the,! September and October lobbying firm 's downtown Lansing office arts center 's board of directors the... Detroit Democrat she stayed at Lees home became more frequent, eventually culminating in sex as treasurer with Kellie.! Casino & amp ; Resort Greater Saginaw-Midland-Bay City Area during local office hours the! Of working in the window of the multi-client lobbying firm 's downtown Lansing...., citing the controversy. [ 21 ] she chose to continue the affair ''. House for the 2019-2020 legislative session. `` him on Twitter at @ elrick, Facebook at ML elrick Instagram! Pac and Wentworth Majority Fund PAC and Wentworth Majority Fund 2 had replaced Anne as. $ 1,960 fine from the relationship are looking forward to building on very... Floor with his chief of staff Rob Minard that would ruin everything & quot ; Rep.... He opposed the project, Ananich told the News Instagram at ml_elrick my messages seeking comment from relationship! The News pushed to marry when at 19, after their families discovered they were sex. District 67, flowing from undisclosed sources used for undisclosed purposes, Brewer! An adult woman when their affair began, and they are working through this...., was treasurer of his campaign his new job, Chatfield resigned citing... Governmental Consultant Services, Inc. 's logo in the construction, Mining & amp ; industry! The 2019-2020 legislative session. `` 2019, like politicians before him who aspired to be speaker Wentworth.
Kizzmekia Corbett Parents Nationality,
Singularity University Criticism,
Tim Collins Ripplewood Net Worth,
Mchenry County Conservatives,
Boomer Parents Wonder Why They Are Ignored,
Articles R