Michigan Republican leaders still shockingly quiet about state Senator John Bizon, weeks after being sentenced for criminal conduct
LANSING – The Michigan Democratic Party renewed its call for Republican leaders to censure and rebuke Republican state Sen. John Bizon weeks after Bizon was sentenced to probation for criminally touching a nurse practitioner.
The MDP also threw its support behind Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich’s resolution that holds Bizon accountable.
“The silence among Republican legislative leaders over Bizon’s criminal behavior is deafening and it is indicative of the way the GOP – time and again – simply brushes aside such coercive, intimidating and bullying conduct,” said Lavora Barnes, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party. “Senator Bizon pleaded guilty to assault and battery and he received a punishment from the courts. As an elected official, he should also be punished by Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, whose inaction sends a message that he condones criminal groping and the bizarre, dangerous and offensive conduct of his caucus members.”
In March, a judge sentenced Bizon, who entered a guilty plea to criminally touching a nurse practitioner during an exam, to one year of probation. He also was ordered to pay more than $1,100 in fees and go through a mental health treatment program, according to news reports.
While Bizon was convicted of his inappropriate behavior, it fits a pattern among other Michigan Republicans facing accusations of sexual harassment and sexual abuse, including Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido, a former state senator who is accused of sexual harassment, and former Republican state House speaker Lee Chatfield, who is being investigated after his former sister-in-law accused him of sexually abusing her over years.
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