State Police investigation into Lee Chatfield wrapped while Republicans continue to refuse to review use taxpayer money during his tenure
LANSING – After nine months, the investigation into disgraced former Republican state House Speaker Lee Chatfield is moving into a new stage and GOP legislative leaders continue to refuse to review expenditures of Michigan taxpayer dollars during his tenure.
The Detroit News is reporting the Michigan State Police has completed its investigation into Chatfield, which includes the review of reports he sexually abused his former sister-in-law, as well as searches for financial documentation.
This new phase is a reminder of questions still lingering over the use of taxpayer dollars by the House when Chatfield was the speaker from 2019-2020, as well as the continued failure of Republican leaders in the House and Senate to take steps to answer them by ordering a full-scale accounting of expenditures during that period.
“Allegations leveled against Lee Chatfield are extremely serious and they create significant questions about his personal and professional conduct,” said Lavora Barnes, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party. “At any time, Republican legislative leaders – House Speaker Jason Wentworth and Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey – can conduct a review and get answers, but they continue to refuse to do that work and get those answers. Instead, they consistently side with their disgraced colleague rather than look out for the interests of their constituents – the hard-working taxpayers across the state – a job they were elected to do.”
The Michigan Democratic Party on Thursday repeated its call for GOP House and Senate leaders to take up a resolution introduced by House Democratic lawmakers that would create a six-member bipartisan select committee to examine Chatfield’s actions. The resolution was referred to the House Government Operations Committee in March and continues to await a hearing.
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