Michigan Democrats: House must launch ethics investigation into former Speaker Chatfield

(Detroit News) Lansing — Michigan House Democrats pressed majority Republicans Thursday to launch an investigation into former Speaker Lee Chatfield, saying the public's trust in state government was at stake.

Democrats formally introduced a resolution Thursday to create a bipartisan select committee to examine Chatfield's actions as the top lawmaker in the House. He left the chamber because of term limits at the end of 2020. Current House Speaker Jason Wentworth, R-Farwell, has the power to decide whether to act on the proposal.

Wentworth's leadership team directed the proposed resolution to the Government Operations Committee, a panel that rarely meets or takes up bills.

The push by Democrats came amid an ongoing criminal probe into Chatfield and accusations that he sexually abused his sister-in-law, Rebekah Chatfield, beginning when she was 15. Lee Chatfield has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged. ..............(more)

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2022/03/24/michigan-democrats-house-must-launch-ethics-probe-into-chatfield/7152946001/