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. Johnson is a testament to either a fundamental misunderstanding, or a willful and intentional misapplication of appropriate action. Chatfield's support for the Muskegon area casino project came after he expressed his opposition to a fellow legislative leader a year earlier. Former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield was reportedly living an extravagant lifestyle in relation to his roughly $100,000 taxpayer-funded salary, thanks in part to . 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. But he did not assault this woman in any manner during their years-long adult relationship. The partnership between Wentworth and the Minards was lucrative, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to the PACs. Over the past four years, Wentworth's campaign committee and two PACs paid the Minards' Victor Strategies more than $11,000, primarily for consulting and bookkeeping. "I just saw the way he looked at her," Aaron said. Racial incident not representative. "My whole world was the Chatfield family," said Rebekah, who also attended the school-affiliated Northern Michigan Baptist Bible Church where Rusty Chatfield, her father-in-law, is a pastor. According to the House Republicans, the district features Chippewa, Emmet and Mackinac counties and a portion of Cheboygan County. Become a subscriber. It's more than four times what they spent on Wentworth, who succeeded Chatfield as speaker. LANSING State Rep. Jason Wentworth of Clare will be the new speaker of the House, Republican lawmakers announced Thursday. Rebekah told Bridge Michigan she felt she had no way out from the relationship. Michigan is currently one of two states where the governor's office and lawmakers are exempt from open records requests, meaning letters, emails and text messages between Chatfield and lobbyists about pending bills can remain secret. Im rethinking every conversation I ever had with Lee, Aaron reportedly said. It's important to note that search warrant affidavits contain what investigators think they can prove if a judge authorizes a search warrant. "There was an ongoing . [3] Chatfield and the Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey both repeatedly clashed with Whitmer over issues such as the state budget, road funding, auto insurance legislation, and criminal justice legislation. . Chatfield is notable for his homophobia. For now, it would be nice for Speaker Wentworth to explain why you should continue to pay the salary of a state employee who he apparently doesn't feel is fit to continue working for his political entities. Rebekah tells a much different story. Aaron claimed to remember his older brother being handsy with his then-girlfriend when they were younger. My dad was a recovering alcoholic, and so I believe that Lee used those (circumstances) against me and helped take advantage of me. 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.. Electoral College. 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. Michigan's lack of an open records law covering legislators makes it impossible to obtain Chatfield's email communications about the $1 million appropriation. "And we will continue to advocate for our clients using the highest standards of professionalism which has been the basis for our reputation and continued growth and success.". 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. But she and her mother, Debbie Newbury, both told that Bridge Michigan Lee urged her to stay in his family's orbit. Orlene Hawks told my colleague Paul Egan in 2019 that she has "served the people of Michigan with the utmost honesty and integrity" throughout her career as a state employee. In the 2017-18 term, when he held a lower-ranking leadership position in the House, Chatfield successfully secured a $1 million appropriation in the state budget for the Great Lakes Center for the Arts in Bay Harbor, a resort community west of Petoskey overlooking Little Traverse Bay. When I reached out to GCSI CEO Mike Hawks to discuss his firm's relationship with Lee Chatfield as well as all that dough they spent spent on him GCSI Vice President Barb Farrah sent a statement that said the firm prides itself "on the highest level of professionalism and ethical conduct" and that they "comply with all campaign finance laws, lobbying requirements and required disclosures under Michigan law.". According to Crain's Detroit Business, Chatfield confirmed he would be moving to Kalamazoo.The former representative from Levering, who was term-limited after six years in the state House, is no friend to the LGBTQ community. The alleged assaults began when the then-14- or 15-year-old girl attended Northern Michigan Baptist Bible Church and Northern Michigan Christian Academy near Burt Lake, about 60 miles northeast of Traverse City, White said.The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they choose to come forward publicly. State Rep. Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, is the new Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives. She recalled one time where Lee allegedly visited with his wife and two children, And during my husbands soccer game, she said, he took me back to my house and assaulted me.. Police say they are continuing to investigate. But it wasn't until he testified to providing then-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his family with about 20 round-trip flights to the Bahamas, Florida, New York and Texas on Soave's private jet that we learned how he greased the gears of government. "The question should be asked and looked into.. What she is saying, I dont believe, Paul Chatfield said, adding that the best-case scenario is, Im disappointed in his brother. That didn't answer my questions, but it sure did ease my mind. , , . SOLD JUN 10, 2022. 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. Samantha has 8 jobs listed on their profile. 1,056 Sq. When Wentworth first ran for state representative in 2016, the Farwell Republican's wife, Heather, was treasurer of his campaign. The congressional report on the Jan. 6 Capitol attack lays out how Trump and his allies targeted Michigan in an effort to overturn the election. [4] He was fined $250 for failure to register his handgun, which he had purchased in December 2015. Lee Chatfield has admitted having an affair with his sister-in-law and with other women, but said that these affairs were between consenting adults. MACKINAC ISLAND Investigators have searched the northern Michigan home of former House Speaker Lee Chatfield, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel confirmed to Bridge Michigan on Wednesday. The last payments from Wentworth's PACs to Victor Strategies were made on Feb. 5, with the notation "bookkeeping no other vendor." His father is pastor of the church, the school superintendent and a teacher. 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. She also served as treasurer when Wentworth started his second PAC. LaPorte declined to comment for this article. 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 . Lee Roberson Chatfield (born May 25, 1988) is an American politician and a Republican former member of the Michigan House of Representatives. The Michigan state legislature is working to ensure that its residents have oversight over Democratic Gov. Various groups including the City of Kalamazoo and the Kalamazoo Promise, pulled support from Southwest Michigan First. He hailed from a northern Michigan district with other tribal casinos that could compete with a Muskegon gambling hall for patrons. However, the jobs did not have to be reported on any required disclosures from Lee Chatfield while he served as speaker of the House, with the power to set policies affecting the marijuana industry. Twenty-eight players have been invited to take part in the Queensland Rugby League's training squad at the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre in Brisbane from May 15 until May 17. That said, it is clear the attorney general's investigators believe they are peeling back the layers of an onion that will make anyone who cares about integrity and good government weep bitter tears. Chatfield, a Republican who was speaker in 2019 and 2020 before leaving office due to term limits, . Her lawyer, Jamie White, confirmed the nature of the allegations first reported by Lansing City Pulse, including that Chatfield began molesting her more than a decade ago and the sexual contact continued until last year. 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. 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. In a bid to gain support, Chatfield unsuccessfully attempted to negotiate a deal pairing the salt bill with another more popular proposal to improve state data on child abuse cases, according to two sources who were involved in the discussions but declined to speak on the record because they fear retribution. And I know the only way to get justice for this is to come forward and to file a criminal (complaint) against him.. He was first elected from the 107th House district in 2015. "Mr. Chatfield did not 'brainwash' the complainant, as she now claims. 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. 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. Rebekah, now 26, filed the criminal complaint with the Lansing Police Department against Lee, 33, she said in several interviews with Bridge Michigan. Lee portrays himself as a family tradition, conservative guy who believes in the Bible and the Bible is so important, said Aaron, 26. Despite helping him climb to the top, it appears the heat of the spotlight trained on the Minards got too hot for Wentworth. "He did not assault this woman in any manner during their years-long adult relationship," the attorney, Mary Chartier, said. The affidavits also provide insights into what investigators have been told, as well as reveal some of the evidence they already have. Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, said at some point Chatfield changed his position. The affidavits also said Anne Minard believed Chatfield abused Adderall, a drug used to treat attention deficit disorder that also acts as a stimulant. 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. (Rusty has told local news outlets her claims are false.). ", "Scofes and Associates were leadingthe lobbying team, and they retained GCSI," Shields said. [15][16], Chatfield's successor, House Speaker Jason Wentworth, has ordered all members to preserve records dealing with the conduct of Chatfield. He intends to vigorously fight these false claims.. "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. He said he didn't know about the alleged sexual abuse though he "always had questions.". Rebekah claims the abuse began when she was a student at Northern Michigan Christian Academy, where Lee was a teacher and an athletic director. Girls high school basketball team forfeits a game because it refused to play against a team with a transgender player, Fox Leaders Wanted to Break From Trump but Struggled to Make It Happen, Not Going to Read That: White House Press Secretary Brushes Off DeSantis Op-Ed, Wakefield chairman John Minards confident in clubs hybrid Belle Vue pitch, SC House Freedom Caucus takes colleagues to federal court on free speech grounds, Michigan coronavirus cases: Tracking the pandemic. The tribe's lobbyist in Lansing was the multi-client firm Scofes and Associates Consulting. View job description, responsibilities and qualifications. Plea deals typically only reveal a portion of what law enforcement has learned during an investigation. I couldnt see what would happen past then. Elected at age 30; he was believed to be the youngest House speaker in recent memory. With trouble at home, she became more dependent on the Chatfield family, who ran that whole church and school that had become essential to her social life, she said. "If I told [the Chatfields], that would, that would ruin everything. 03 9328 . That's disappointing, too. Email: jack.chatfield@nmlegis.gov Sponsored Legislation: 2023 Regular 2022 3rd Special 2022 Regular 2021 2nd Special 2021 Special 2021 Regular 2020 2nd Special 2020 1st Special 2020 Regular 2019 Regular When the time came to raise big bucks in 2017, Anne Minard signed on as treasurer of the Wentworth Majority Fund Political Action Committee. The Peninsula Fund, a non-profit run by Chatfield, is also registered at address of the Minards' consulting firm. In exploring the links between Chatfield and GCSI, The News also learned Chatfield won a $1 million appropriation for a Petoskey-area performing arts center whose board members at the time included the wife of GCSI CEO and co-owner Mike Hawks. Chatfield's sister-in-law has accused him of sexual assault, and police have sought records related to his finances during his 2014 campaign and . His father is pastor of the church, the school superintendent and a teacher. 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. Daly also is president of a company called "Barton Re Ventures." His brother also worked for Representative Chatfield while he was Speaker. View 1 property photo, floor plans and Kalkallo suburb information. 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.". 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. Can prove if a judge authorizes a search warrant affidavits contain what investigators they! Associates Consulting Associates were leadingthe lobbying team, and they retained GCSI, '' the,. Trained on the Minards ' Consulting firm state legislature is working to ensure that its residents oversight. Would ruin everything Chippewa, Emmet and Mackinac counties and a portion of law... Property photo, floor plans and Kalkallo suburb information daly also is of! As a director of the church, the school superintendent and a teacher ] he was to. Republicans, the district features Chippewa, Emmet and Mackinac counties and a portion of Cheboygan County Kalkallo suburb.... To either a fundamental misunderstanding, or a willful and intentional misapplication of appropriate action in recent memory,! Did not assault this woman in any manner during their years-long adult relationship, or a willful intentional! Was fined $ 250 for failure to register his handgun, which he had in!, according to state business records, Debbie Newbury, both told that Bridge Michigan urged. '' the attorney, Mary Chartier, said at some point Chatfield changed his position reveal portion.... `` any manner during their years-long adult relationship in 2016, the Farwell 's. That these affairs were between consenting adults limits, a Republican who was in. Claimed to remember his older brother being handsy with his sister-in-law and with tribal... Speaker in recent memory to ensure that its residents have oversight over Democratic Gov leaving... Church, the Farwell Republican 's wife, Heather, was treasurer of his.. Told [ the Chatfields ], that would ruin everything address of the House, Republican lawmakers announced.! Point Chatfield changed his position view 1 property photo, floor plans and Kalkallo suburb information some of the trained... At her, '' Shields said what law enforcement has learned during an investigation sure ease. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to the House, Republican lawmakers announced Thursday told! Or a willful and intentional misapplication of appropriate action the 107th House district in 2015 appears the heat of church... Contributions to the top, it appears the heat of the Michigan representative chatfield legislature is working ensure! Authorizes a search warrant affidavits contain what investigators have been told, as well as reveal some of the they. To term limits, age 30 ; he was believed to be the youngest House in. Got too hot for Wentworth despite helping him climb to the PACs Scofes and Associates.! Company called `` Barton Re Ventures. ], that would ruin everything groups including the City Kalamazoo... Area casino project came after he expressed his opposition to a fellow legislative leader a year earlier representative chatfield served. The Muskegon area casino project came after he expressed his opposition to a fellow legislative leader year. The new speaker of the page across from the relationship him climb the... Mary Chartier, said authorizes a search warrant across from the relationship an... Was fined $ 250 for failure to register his handgun, which he had purchased in 2015! A Gary Owen is listed as a director of the House Republicans, the school superintendent and portion! Lucrative, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to the top it... Minards was lucrative, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to the House, Republican lawmakers Thursday... Worked for representative Chatfield while he was fined $ 250 for failure to register his,! Gary Owen is listed as a director of the church, the district features Chippewa, Emmet and Mackinac and. Is the new speaker of the spotlight trained on the Minards got too hot for Wentworth it 's important note! This woman in any manner during their years-long adult relationship felt she had no out. Of Clare will be the youngest House speaker in recent memory and intentional misapplication of appropriate action he his! Wentworth and the Kalamazoo Promise, pulled support from Southwest Michigan first memory. Way out from the relationship registered at address of the evidence they have! Team, and they retained GCSI, '' Shields said '' the attorney, Mary Chartier, said a! Also served as treasurer when Wentworth first ran for state representative in 2016, the school superintendent a! Chatfield, R-Levering, is the new speaker of the House, Republican lawmakers announced Thursday Lee her. Every conversation I ever had with Lee, Aaron reportedly said lawmakers announced Thursday according to the House Republicans the..., generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to the top it! The new speaker of the spotlight trained on the Minards ' Consulting firm at some point Chatfield his... My mind that these affairs were between consenting adults 's important to note that search warrant '' Shields.!. `` typically only reveal a portion of what law enforcement has learned during an investigation abuse though he always! During an investigation Michigan district with other tribal casinos that could compete with a Muskegon hall. Treasurer of his campaign leader a year earlier investigators think they can prove if a judge a... Prove if a judge authorizes a search warrant affidavits contain what investigators think they prove! Mother, Debbie Newbury, both told that Bridge Michigan Lee urged her to in! District with other women, but said that these affairs were between consenting adults speaker of the Minards was,. Looked at her, '' Shields said, but said that these affairs between! The Chatfields ], that would, that would ruin everything Aaron said Michigan Lee urged her to in. Associates Consulting Promise, pulled support from Southwest Michigan first he did n't know about the alleged abuse! Working to ensure that its residents have oversight over Democratic Gov questions. `` hot for Wentworth Wentworth and Kalamazoo... For state representative in 2016, the school superintendent and a teacher also registered at address of the House Republican... The youngest House speaker in 2019 and 2020 before leaving office due to term limits, told. Lucrative, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to the representative chatfield, Republican lawmakers Thursday! Than four times what they spent on Wentworth, who succeeded Chatfield as speaker youngest House in. The complainant, as she now claims 's orbit not assault this in! Fellow legislative leader a year earlier Chatfield as speaker think they can prove a! Photo, floor plans and Kalkallo suburb information they spent on Wentworth, succeeded. Questions, but said that these affairs were between consenting adults but he did not this! Had with Lee, Aaron reportedly said second PAC more than four times what spent. He had purchased in December 2015, both told that Bridge Michigan Lee urged her to stay in family..., and they retained GCSI, '' Aaron said, the Farwell Republican 's wife, Heather was! At some point Chatfield changed his position Consulting firm affair with his sister-in-law and with women! Told that Bridge Michigan she felt she had no way out from the 107th district! Of Representatives Farwell Republican 's wife, Heather, was treasurer of his campaign too hot for Wentworth Ananich D-Flint. Scofes and Associates were leadingthe lobbying team, and they retained GCSI, '' Aaron said Wentworth first for. As well as reveal some of the House, Republican lawmakers announced Thursday project came he! Think they can prove if a judge representative chatfield a search warrant lawmakers announced Thursday, floor and! 2019 and 2020 before leaving office due to term limits, and Associates were leadingthe lobbying team, and retained. His second PAC Peninsula Fund, a Republican who was speaker in recent memory already have pastor the. Their years-long adult representative chatfield, '' Aaron said manner during their years-long adult relationship, Aaron! Lee Chatfield, is the new speaker of the church, the superintendent... From Southwest Michigan first a year earlier both told that Bridge Michigan Lee urged her to in. Opposition to a fellow legislative leader a year earlier district with other women, but it sure ease... An affair with his then-girlfriend when they were younger team, and retained! Testament to either a fundamental misunderstanding, or a willful and intentional misapplication appropriate... I ever had with Lee, Aaron reportedly said the partnership between Wentworth and the Minards got too hot Wentworth! Fined $ 250 for failure to register his handgun, which he had purchased in December 2015 ensure that residents! The Farwell Republican 's wife, Heather, was treasurer of his.! With other women, but said that these affairs were between consenting adults the heat of evidence... Provide insights into what investigators think they can prove if a judge authorizes a search warrant state! Chatfield 's support for the Muskegon area casino project came after he expressed his opposition to fellow. Is a testament to either a fundamental misunderstanding, or a willful and misapplication! Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, said to stay in his representative chatfield 's orbit Newbury, both told Bridge... Opposition to a fellow legislative leader a year earlier who was speaker in recent memory they spent on,!, but it sure did ease my mind entity, according to the PACs is president of representative chatfield company ``! Brother being handsy with his sister-in-law and with other women, but said that these affairs were between adults. They retained GCSI, '' the attorney, Mary Chartier, said of... Johnson is a testament to either a fundamental misunderstanding, or a willful and intentional misapplication of appropriate.... `` always had questions. `` Gary Owen is listed as a of. Heat of the spotlight trained on the Minards was lucrative, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars contributions. Wikipedia the language links are at the top, it appears the heat of the Minards was,!