Former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield and his wife Stephanie are facing serious heat as they've been slapped with numerous felony charges, including allegations of embezzling from political nonprofit funds to support their high-rolling lifestyle. In a sweeping set of charges announced yesterday, Attorney General Dana Nessel accused the Chatfields of bleeding dry organizations that were meant to serve the public's interest, not their personal treasure chest. Nessel disclosed that the pair allegedly siphoned off over $130,000 for their own pleasure - from exotic trips to fancy shops - all on the dime of political donors who thought they were funding democracy, not Caribbean getaways.
Despite the accusations of such a blatant breach of the public's trust, the Chatfields have quickly geared up to rigorously defend their names in court. "It took almost two and a half years for the Attorney General’s office to come up with charges against Mr. Chatfield," Mary Chartier, Lee Chatfield’s attorney, stated defiantly in a release before Nessel's afternoon announcement, as obtained by The Detroit News. "We are prepared to fight them each and every step of the way."
Adding to the intrigue of the case, a sexual assault investigation into allegations made by Chatfield's sister-in-law Rebekah initially opened the floodgates to further scrutiny of his financial activities. Although that case has since been closed due to insufficient evidence, Rebekah's claims tipped off authorities to possible misuse of his political funds. "We commend Rebekah's strength, her bravery, and her courage in stepping forward to tell her story," Nessel said, according to an Associated Press report. "Her disclosure led to our office's full investigation into allegations of other criminal activity."
According to Nessel, the financial forensic trail painted a damning picture: lavish trips brazenly charged to nonprofit accounts, luxury items purchased with funds earmarked for political causes, and more than $12,000 worth of taxpayer money misappropriated for travel never taken, as reported by FOX 2 Detroit. The Chatfields are also accused to have used the Peninsula Fund to settle a whopping $132,000 in personal credit card bills. With the cloud of a 20-year felony hanging over Lee Chatfield for conducting a criminal enterprise, this case promises to keep unfolding as the legal battle ramps up.
Meanwhile, the charges against Chatfield's former staffers, Rick and Anne Minard, who were arraigned in December for their role in the alleged embezzlement ring, add yet another layer to this scandal rocking Michigan's political landscape. "The investigation remains ongoing," Nessel said in a statement, hinting at a larger web of deceit yet to be fully unraveled and subsequent charges that could be on the horizon. This revelation, emerging from WWJ Newsradio, suggests that while this chapter in Michigan's political history is being written, the ink is far from dry.
