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. 182 talking about this. And based on what we've seen so far, Lansing looks mighty murky. The psychological abuse wore her down, she said, and she stopped resisting. View 1 property photo, floor plans and Kalkallo suburb information. When she was 18 she married Aaron Chatfield, Lee's brother. Lee Chatfield. In December 2020, the federal government made determinations in favor of the Muskegon County project. Michigan House of Representatives District 107 is represented by Neil Friske (R). 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. 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. Interviews with more than 30 sources and a review of previously unreported documents underscore how Michigan's lax ethics laws shielded ties between Chatfield and GCSI from the public spotlight and provided ways for the once powerful lawmaker and the multi-client lobbying firm to avoid disclosure of their collaboration. She also helped get Wentworth elected and was treasurer of his political action committees. Shirkey and Representative Lee Chatfield, the top two Republican leaders of Michigan's legislative chambers, are set to meet with Trump on Friday. 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. Paul Bryan (Newcastle Knights) Xavier Chatfield-Mooka (Sydney Roosters) GCSI represents multiple clients who are regulated by LARA. "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. Become a subscriber. Some lobbying firms even have fundraising facilities in their buildings that lawmakers can use to throw parties and raise dough. The sister-in-law of a former, high-ranking Republican leader in Michigan accused the lawmaker of sexually assaulting her for years when she was an underaged teen, officials said Monday.. Lee Chatfield, 33, who served as speaker of the state House of Representatives in 2019 and 2020, denies any criminal wrongdoing and instead admits to extramarital but consensual sex with the accuser . Secretary of State lobbyist disclosure records show that GCSI spent more than $9,000 wining and dining Chatfield. But they declined to answer questions from The News about the firm's relationship with Chatfield, issuing a statement saying they operate in "an extremely competitive, regulated lobbying environment. Former House Speaker Lee Chatfield, right, stands on the House floor with his chief of staff Rob Minard. While police launched an investigation, reporters began digging into Chatfield's campaign accounts. Jason Wentworth is the Speaker of the Michigan House, but he's not speaking. Guest Service Representative at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Greater Saginaw-Midland-Bay City Area. [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. [1], Chatfield was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2014, after defeating a Republican incumbent, Frank Foster, in the primary election. Republican Lee Chatfield is under police investigation over claims of sexual assault. Last name. [4] He was fined $250 for failure to register his handgun, which he had purchased in December 2015. [17], Due to term limits, Chatfield was ineligible to run for another term in the Michigan House of Representatives. 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. [3] Negotiations for long-term road funding broke down, and Legislature passed a bill without support from Whitmer's administration. That's disappointing, too. The last payments from Wentworth's PACs to Victor Strategies were made on Feb. 5, with the notation "bookkeeping no other vendor." But she and her mother, Debbie Newbury, both told that Bridge Michigan Lee urged her to stay in his family's orbit. it was never consensual, because it started when I was a minor the brainwashing, the mentality, the manipulation, the psychological, the emotional he groomed me into being who he wanted me to be.. [7], Chatfield was a strong supporter of President Donald Trump. She still serves as the director of LARA, which oversees professional licensing and regulates the liquor and marijuana industries. 2023 Representative Information. Questions about Soave's relationship with local officials circulated for years. We're going to pass gun reforms. [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. Phone and text messages seeking comment were left by the AP Thursday night for Chatfield, 33, who left the House in 2020 due to term limits. 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." Chatfield deeply regrets the decisions he has made. That's more than 10 times what they spent on Tom Leonard, who preceded Chatfield as speaker. In addition, according to the affidavit, Aaron Chatfield "acquired Adderall for the lobbyist Noel LaPorte one time." $805,700. Chatfield's letter of support to the federal government was sent on the same day in July 2020 as one from Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake. | Learn more about Sean Chatfield's work experience, education . "There was an ongoing . 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. 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. Elected at age 30; he was believed to be the youngest House speaker in recent memory. That didn't answer my questions, but it sure did ease my mind. Rebekah tells a much different story. As of the 2020 Census, Michigan state representatives represented an average of 91,612 residents. [2][3] Chatfield criticized Foster for supporting Medicaid expansion[3] and for supporting an extension of Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in housing and employment.[2]. The Queensland squad also includes exciting Gold Coast talent Jojo Fifita, who has been named 18th man for the Titans in their NRL clash against the Cronulla Sharks in Coffs Harbour. [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. [9] Despite pressure from Trump, Chatfield ultimately declined to support passage of a Michigan Legislation to pass a resolution purporting to retroactively change Michigan's slate of electors for Trump, saying that such a move "would bring mutually assured destruction for every future election in regards to the Electoral College" and "we would lose our country forever. "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. $252,000 Last Sold Price. 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. Because of Michigan's lack of an open records policy covering lawmakers, the House wouldn't have to disclose Chatfield's letter. 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. Todd McInturf / The Detroit News. In 2018, "the Great Lakes Center for the Arts reached out" to Chatfield requesting assistance with an economic development project in his House district, according to Orlene Hawks' statement. 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. Lee has not commented on the accusations, but his attorney Mary Chartier told The Bridge in a statement that both were consenting adults in the relationship. , , . He assumed office on January 1, 2019. Strong sales / Operations professional graduated from Southern Cross University. Gretchen Whitmer named to lead Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), which is one of the state's largest and most far-reaching government agencies. 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. Electoral College. Anne Minard's day job is event planner for the Michigan House Republican Caucus, a gig paid for with $40,000 of our tax dollars. Lee Roberson Chatfield (born May 25, 1988) is an American politician and a Republican former member 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.. 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. Rebekah Chatfield, who is married to the politicians younger brother, claims the former speaker assaulted her more times than I can count beginning when she was 15 years old more than a decade ago. We've received your submission. Lee, a Republican, was the youngest person to serve as Speaker of the House in Michigan in over 100 years. After he finished he said, Dont worry. No, it couldnt be further from who my man was as a person.. Chatfield was a teacher, coach and athletic director at the school. 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