Current:Home > MyTwo people who worked for former Michigan House leader are charged with financial crimes -Streamline Finance
Two people who worked for former Michigan House leader are charged with financial crimes
View
Date:2025-04-12 14:48:46
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Two people who had close ties to a powerful Republican lawmaker when he ran the Michigan House were charged Thursday with a raft of financial crimes, including embezzlement from nonprofit funds created for political purposes.
The charges against Rob and Anne Minard rose from an ongoing investigation of former House Speaker Lee Chatfield, Attorney General Dana Nessel said at a news conference.
Rob Minard was Chatfield’s chief of staff in 2019 to 2020 while his wife, Anne Minard, was director of external affairs. They also ran a side business, Victor Strategies, a political strategy and fundraising firm.
Nessel said the Minards misappropriated at least $525,000 from three nonprofit political funds connected to Chatfield and a political action committee.
“They are Lansing power brokers,” she said.
The Minards, who will appear in court on Jan. 3, were charged with conducting a criminal enterprise, conspiracy, embezzlement, false pretenses and a tax crime. Their Lansing-area home was raided in search of documents last February.
Rob Minard’s attorney, Bob Harrison, said he hadn’t seen the charges yet but promised a vigorous defense.
“In my conversations with the government before this date, the things that were mentioned are all defensible. We’re talking about things that any campaign does every day,” Harrison said.
Anne Minard’s attorney, Gerry Gleeson, said he wants to see the facts in court, not allegations.
“These types of nonprofits are not giving charitable gifts to sick children,” said Nessel, a Democrat, who described them as “conduits of dark money.”
She said the Minards “exploited and defrauded” the funds through double billing, improper reimbursement and falsifying records.
Nessel said the political funds are not required to publicly disclose their donors.
“Michigan residents deserve more,” she said. “They deserve better than what this flawed system has allowed.”
Chatfield, who is no longer a state lawmaker, has been under investigation by authorities since his sister-in-law said he sexually assaulted her. Chatfield has denied the allegations and said they had a consensual affair.
Nessel repeatedly emphasized Thursday that all aspects of the Chatfield investigation remained open.
“I do anticipate meeting you all here again in the next few months with further charging decisions,” the attorney general told reporters.
___
White reported from Detroit.
veryGood! (6562)
Related
- Your Wedding Guests Will Thank You if You Get Married at These All-Inclusive Resorts
- New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- 2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
- New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens
- 2 killed, 3 injured in shooting at makeshift club in Houston
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
Ranking
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
- Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Tropical weather brings record rainfall. Experts share how to stay safe in floods.
- Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
- 2 killed, 3 injured in shooting at makeshift club in Houston
- Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
Recommendation
Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations