Former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield has had a criminal complaint filed against him by his sister-in-law alleging that he sexually abused her over the course of more than a decade.
In the complaint, news of which was first reported on Thursday, the woman, now 27, alleges that she had first been molested by Chatfield, 33, as a 15-year-old when she began attending a church and accompanying school run by Chatfield’s father, Rusty.
Details of the sexual assault allegations were not disclosed. Additionally, the accuser has not been publicly identified, so it is unclear to which one of Chatfield’s six siblings she is married.
Chatfield was a teacher at the school as well as being the men’s soccer coach and athletic director, according to his biography on the Michigan House website. He continued in these positions until 2014, at which point he left to run for a seat in the Michigan House.
Despite ending his roles at the school, though, the abuse reportedly continued through July 2021, James White, an attorney for the woman, alleged in a statement.
White, who has represented a number of women in high-profile sexual assault cases, including the infamous Larry Nassar lawsuits at Michigan State University, added that his office was “conducting an aggressive, independent investigation.”
“We are very confident that between Michigan State Police and our independent investigation, he’s going to be held accountable,” White said of Chatfield. “This young woman is extremely terrified of what’s coming forward for her as far as how the ex-speaker is going to respond. We’re wrapping our arms around her to make sure she has tools to deal with this.”
The Michigan State Police took over the investigation into the allegations after the complaint was transferred to them by the Lansing Police Department, where the complaint was originally filed.
This is not the first time that Chatfield has been mired in legal issues.
In 2018, he was arrested at the Pellston Regional Airport in Northern Michigan in an attempt to carry a loaded firearm onto an airplane. Chatfield claimed that the incident was inadvertent, and was not criminally charged, although he was forced to pay a $1,960 fine.
Chatfield was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2014 as a member of the Republican Party. He became speaker pro tempore in 2017, and became the youngest speaker of the House in Michigan history in 2019.
His time in the House came to an end after 2020, and he then briefly became the CEO of Southwest Michigan First, an economic development group. However, Chatfield was soon forced to resign in February 2021 amid controversy over anti-LBGTQ statements he had made while in office.
In a letter written upon his resignation, Chatfield stated that Southwest Michigan First should be led by “someone with a blank political slate that won’t bring about the division that I’ve unfortunately caused.”
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Original Article: Ex-Michigan House Speaker Accused of Sexually Assaulting Teen, Who Is Now His Sister-in-Law (msn.com)
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What's Up Today Editorial Team
Why did this write wait until the 11th paragraph to state that Lee Chatfield is a Republican?
That should have been included in the very first paragraph.
Sad
Very sad!
Because his party affiliation was irrelevant to the alleged crime, you narrow minded asshole.
Does it matter what his party is? The media usually likes to make a big deal out of which party is involved in a scandal. That is what has been the problem with the media for over a decade…finger pointing instead of missing what the real issue is. A man molested and took advantage of a young girl. That is the story!!! Would it be okay if he was a Democrat??
I agree totally
You are right. It shouldn’t be political party afiliation or the color of your skin.
There are SICK BASTARDS everywhere! They ALL SHOULD BE CASTRATED!
So why are we all “passing judgement” on this man before he is even charged, tried and convicted?? It appears we have forgotten “innocent until PROVEN guilty”. In the end, when the trial is over, what if we “discover” he was “targeted” by his sister-in-law, in a fit of jealousy, or revenge, because he, perhaps, ignored her because she was married to one of his brothers, or he ignored her because he was interested in, or committed to another woman?? We don’t know all the “facts”, so let’s chill a bit.
Why are Democrats in power so much like Jeffrey Epstein?