Chatfield was speaker of the state House from 2019 to 2020. Ft. 7830 Richwood Dr, ORLANDO, FL 32825. [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]. Chatfield was never listed as the primary sponsor of the bills but privately pressured other lawmakers to support them, according to four legislators who declined to be identified for fear of retribution. Chatfield took office in 2015. LANSING State Rep. Jason Wentworth of Clare will be the new speaker of the House, Republican lawmakers announced Thursday. 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. Complaints about lobbying are investigated by the Attorney General's office. Various groups including the City of Kalamazoo and the Kalamazoo Promise, pulled support from Southwest Michigan First. What she is saying, I dont believe, Paul Chatfield said, adding that the best-case scenario is, Im disappointed in his brother. 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. Stephanie Chatfield is married to State Rep. Lee Chatfield, a pro-life Republican who has co-sponsored a bill to ban dismemberment abortion, supported defunding Planned Parenthood, and posted a . 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. 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. He was speaker pro tempore from 2017 to 2019, and speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021. In 2019 before GCSI began lobbying for the casino Chatfield told Ananich he opposed the project, Ananich told The News. 2 Baths. Easy 1-Click Apply (LIVEOPS) Remote Work-From-Home Independent Contractor - Call Center Representative job in Chatfield, MN. 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. "Theres enough there," Thomas said. As senior representatives of our school . Owen has not responded to requests for comment about the Attorney General's affidavit. Chatfield was a teacher, coach and athletic director at the school. Despite helping him climb to the top, it appears the heat of the spotlight trained on the Minards got too hot for Wentworth. In 2017, a local Rotary Club posted the above photo of the Chatfields and wrote, "Representative Lee Chatfield and his wife Stephanie at this year's Diamonds & Denim event at Bay Harbor . He was first elected from the 107th House district in 2015. Getty Images. See if you qualify! Nearby homes similar to 1370 Chatfield Pl have recently sold between $252K to $362K at an average of $235 per square foot. But on Feb. 25, 2021, about two months after Chatfield left office, the House approved a symbolic resolution in opposition to off-reservation gaming. She was an adult woman when their affair began, and she chose to continue the affair," the attorney continued. The chatter grew so loud it prompted Hauck to meet with Chatfield, whose district was 200 miles from where the casino would be located. Amber McCann, Nessel's spokeswoman, declined to comment on whether the former speaker's ties to GCSI are part of the ongoing investigation. He destroyed me, and has controlled my life since I was 15-16, the past 10-11 years, she said. Lee, a Republican, was the youngest person to serve as Speaker of the House in Michigan in over 100 years. She claimed the assaults continued more times than I can count. "The fundamental evil we're fighting is the lack of . Police say they are continuing to investigate. 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 . Gretchen Whitmer and the GOP-controlled Legislature. "Instead of him saying, 'Hey, you should listen to your parents' what they're supposedly preaching from these pulpits they started planting seeds in my head of why I shouldn't listen to them, and why I shouldn't trust them," Rebekah said. 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. Jason Wentworth is the Speaker of the Michigan House, but he's not speaking. State Rep. Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, is the new Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives. 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. By May 12, the Wentworth Majority Fund PAC and Wentworth Majority Fund 2 had replaced Anne Minard as treasurer with Kellie Rankey. View job description, responsibilities and qualifications. Lee Roberson Chatfield (born May 25, 1988) is an American politician and a Republican former member of the Michigan House of Representatives. Chatfield taught and coached at the school and was the athletic director between 2010 and 2014, according to his LinkedIn profile. "They like to prop up the speaker that is going to ask the least amount of questions about what theyre trying to achieve," said Rep. Brad Paquette, R-Berrien Springs, of Lansing lobbying firms like GCSI. All players must be registered at Netball North Harbour to be eligible for trials. 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. Whitmer formally blocked the Muskegon County casino project in June after the City of Detroit lobbied hard against the proposal. View Samantha Chatfield's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. January 27, 2022, 11:25 AM. 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. 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. His father is pastor of the church, the school superintendent and a teacher. Chatfield's close ties to Lansing-based Governmental Consultant Services Inc. (GCSI) included renting an apartment from one of the firm's high-profile clients with regulatory issues before the Legislature and championing a bill that would have given another client a near-monopoly on contracts for road salt. She had reportedly been dating Lees younger brother, Aaron Chatfield. 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.. According to the House Republicans, the district features Chippewa, Emmet and Mackinac counties and a portion of Cheboygan County. "What she is saying, I don't believe," Paul said, adding that "the best-case scenario is, I'm disappointed. [11][12], The sexual abuse is alleged to have begun when the girl was attending Chatfield's church, Northern Michigan Baptist Bible Church, and continued while she was a student at the school associated with the church, where Chatfield taught physical education. She still serves as the director of LARA, which oversees professional licensing and regulates the liquor and marijuana industries. Court records describing the new accusations were obtained by the Detroit News. Greg Reid. In his first race for state Rep in 2014, Chatfield began his campaign to deny LGBTQ+ people their civil rights by using that as a wedge issue against fellow Republican Frank Foster, who supported adding sexual orientation and gender identity to ELCRA. Last name. Their affair lasted for years, but they were both consenting adults, she said. Rebekah says the alleged abuse began with unwelcome touching and escalated to unwanted sex, which happened "more times than I can count." 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. State Rep. Lee Chatfield is inviting residents to join him during local office hours for the months of September and October. Gretchen Whitmer named to lead Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), which is one of the state's largest and most far-reaching government agencies. 2 Beds. $805,700. Investigations take time, but dedicated diggers will almost always turn up the truth. Rebekah and Aaron were engaged in June 2014 and married two months later, according to Bridge. GCSI represents Ann Arbor-based cannabis entrepreneur James Daly, who hired Chatfield's brothers Aaron and Paul as well as Paul's wife, Hannah, in 2020 to work in his Herbana marijuana retail stores. On one occasion two years ago, Rebekah said she and Aaron were visiting Lees officewhen he asked Aaron to go pick up a pizza. "Mr. Chatfield did not 'brainwash' the complainant, as she now claims. Rebekah claims the abuse began when she was a student at Northern Michigan Christian Academy, where Lee was a teacher and an athletic director. For a decade, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians sought an off-reservation casino in Muskegon County, a project that supporters argued would generate an estimated $200 million a year in revenues for the tribe. Aaron Parsley has been a part of PEOPLE's digital team for more than 15 years. That's disappointing, too. 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. She said that she eventually stopped resisting. Guest Service Representative at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Greater Saginaw-Midland-Bay City Area. "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. His brother also worked for Representative Chatfield while he was Speaker. Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, said at some point Chatfield changed his position. In a September 2017 email to the leaders of another tribe, before LaPorte began working with the Little River Band, LaPorte touted his connection with Chatfield, who in his third year in office was in line to be elevated to speaker in 2019. 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. Rebekah tells a much different story. So if I told (the Chatfields), that would, that would ruin everything. 11 others named Samantha Chatfield are on LinkedIn See others . Michigan House of Representatives District 107 is represented by Neil Friske (R). Questions about Soave's relationship with local officials circulated for years. In December 2020, the federal government made determinations in favor of the Muskegon County project. Aaron claimed to remember his older brother being handsy with his then-girlfriend when they were younger. After reviewing more than 1,000 pages of records detailing Chatfield's political funds and a nonprofit he used to advance his political agenda, I reported in August that Chatfield's spending looked a lot like the kind of financial chicanery that helped former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick earn a 28-year prison sentence for public corruption. 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 . A resolution never came up for a vote in the House. TruGreen Neighborhood Lawn Sales Representative. , , . 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. I couldnt see what would happen past then. He assumed office on January 1, 2019. And I know the only way to get justice for this is to come forward and to file a criminal (complaint) against him.. [15][16], Chatfield's successor, House Speaker Jason Wentworth, has ordered all members to preserve records dealing with the conduct of Chatfield. Lee Chatfield has denied wrongdoing and said he had a consensual affair. 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. Elected in 2019, Chatfield represents the 67th district, which includes Tucumcari, New Mexico, Ute Lake State Park, and Clayton Lake State Park. Job Description. 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. A Gary Owen is listed as a director of the entity, according to state business records. 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. More:Ex-House Speaker Lee Chatfield's ties to marijuana industry getting scrutiny from investigators. GCSI and its employees spent $6,898 on food and drink for Chatfield over his two years as speaker. Mr. It's important to note that search warrant affidavits contain what investigators think they can prove if a judge authorizes a search warrant. Experienced Sales / Branch Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the construction, Mining & Hospitality industry. Chatfield has denied allegations he sexually . It has caused great pain to his wife and family, and they are working through this together. Lee's attorney told PEOPLE on Friday that he is "innocent of the false rape claims made against him," adding that he had an affair with his accuser while he was married but that the relationship was consensual and happened while both were over the age of 18. U14*- Born 2009, 2010 - Players must be at secondary school (Yr 9) to be eligible for selection. The Levering Republican paid $1,960 to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) after he brought the weapon to the Pellston Regional [] 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. [3][8] Paul Mitchell, the U.S. representative for Michigan's 10th congressional district, said that the purpose of the meeting may have been to discuss the appointment of pro-Trump electors to the U.S. My whole world was the Chatfield family, she said. Which is too bad, because I have a lot of questions for him about one of his employees, who is at the heart of what could turn out to be one of the biggest scandals in Michigan political history. 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. They "ran that whole church and school," she said. I didn't know there was an option to report," she said. Lee Chatfield was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2014. Since no one has accused Wentworth of wrongdoing, it would seem there's no good reason for him to clam up when one of his employees has given us reason to wonder whether state government is corrupt. Paquette said he privately clashed with Chatfield about his approach to leadership and cozy interactions with lobbyists. 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. Join to apply for the Sales Representative - Earn Over $100k role at SitePro Rentals. Elrick is a Pulitzer Prize- and Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and host of theML's Soul of Detroit podcast. "The bigger issue is the disclosure of all of this spending," state Rep. Gary Howell, R-North Branch, said of Chatfield's travel habits. 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. In 2018, Chatfield attempted to bring a loaded, unregistered handgun onto a commercial flight at Pellston Regional Airport. The 2017-18 version of the bill passed the Senate but stalled in the House despite Chatfield's advocacy behind the scenes for its passage. We're going to pass gun reforms. Chatfield is notable for his homophobia. "Thats how he moved his agenda, Greig said of the relationship. Racial incident not representative. Anne Minard reportedly said she was not aware of any "unethical or illegal" use of funds, but conceded Lee Chatfield's spending was "excessive.". [17], Due to term limits, Chatfield was ineligible to run for another term in the Michigan House of Representatives. [1] Legislators assuming the role of House Speaker in Michigan at age 30 or younger are as follows: Kinsley Bingham at age 29 in 1838, Alfred Hanscom at age 26 in 1845, Byron Stout at age 27 in 1857, Sullivan Cutcheon at age 29 in 1863, Daniel Markey at age 29 in 1887, William Tateum at age 30 in 1889, and Gilbert Currie at age 30 in 1913. He's also facing allegations of financial misconduct. State Representative Tyrone Carter (D-Detroit) said the House can't punish Chatfield. 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. 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. [18], Chatfield's hiring caused a backlash due to Chatfield's past stances in opposition to LGBTQ rights. 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. 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. Chatfield, the youngest House speaker in more than a century, was the Republican leader for two years and was among seven Michigan GOP lawmakers who met with then-President Donald Trump at the . 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 . Bills in the 2017-18 and 2019-20 sessions would have required the state to give a preference in bidding contracts to firms that mine products in Michigan. What's your enquiry about? State law requires lobbyist agents to report entities that pay them or reimburse them for advocacy efforts. "Lee portrays himself as a family tradition, conservative guy who believes in the Bible and the Bible is so important," the younger Chatfield said. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Biden laughs at Marjorie Taylor Greene pinning 2020 fentanyl deaths of two brothers on him, Cop finishes DoorDash delivery for pregnant driver after car wreck, Long-lost ship found in Lake Huron, confirming tragic story, Michigan Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin announces 2024 Senate run. [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. 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. Chatfield's sister-in-law, now 26, has claimed the 33-year-old former lawmaker sexually assaulted her from the time she was 15 until July 2021, her attorney tells PEOPLE. 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. She also served as treasurer when Wentworth started his second PAC. Dismiss. Lee Chatfield, the then-Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, speaks during a campaign rally in Muskegon, Michigan, on October 17, 2020. One of those firms is Governmental Consultant Services, Inc., also known as GCSI. State budget documents listed Chatfield as the legislative sponsor of the allocation and said the money would go to the construction of a venue. 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.". 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. 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. The Peninsula Fund, a non-profit run by Chatfield, is also registered at address of the Minards' consulting firm. She went to the immediate jurisdiction that she thought was appropriate, White said. Anne Minard was treasurer of each of Chatfield's PACs. The emerging details of how Chatfield used his influence have the potential to spur an overhaul of how Lansing operates as Democrats prepare to take control of the House and Senate in January. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Yet, former House Minority Leader Chris Greig, D-Farmington Hills, said it was common knowledge in Lansing that Chatfield was tight with GCSI's lobbyists. When Wentworth first ran for state representative in 2016, the Farwell Republican's wife, Heather, was treasurer of his campaign. "I had a lot of family stuff going on in my life," Rebekah told Bridge Michigan. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, accused former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield, Ex-con sentenced to 37 to life in prison for brutal rape inside NYC sidewalk shed, Lawyer attacked by client who allegedly decapitated lover withdraws from case, Behind teen girls sky-high depression: Forced sex, social media, Woke LA DA suspends lead prosecutor of trans woman convicted of molesting 10-year-old girl.
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