Michigan's former state house speaker has been accused of molesting a woman for 12 years beginning when she was just 14 or 15, after s...
Michigan's former state house speaker has been accused of molesting a woman for 12 years beginning when she was just 14 or 15, after she began attending his father's church.
State police in northern Michigan were investigating Thursday after the 26-year-old alleged victim of Michigan's former House Speaker Lee Chatfield filed a criminal complaint against him for allegedly sexually assaulting her multiple times beginning when she was 14 or 15-years old while attending his family's church.
The unnamed alleged victim, who is now 26, claims the abuse continued until July 2021.
She filed a criminal complaint with the Lansing Police Department in which she alleges that Chatfield began assaulting her as a teen while she attended Northern Michigan Baptist Bible Church and Northern Michigan Christian Academy.
A woman has claimed Michigan's former House Speaker Lee Chatfield (pictured) molested her from when she was 14 or 15 until she was 26
Chatfield allegedly began assaulting the victim as a teen while she attended Northern Michigan Baptist Bible Church (pictured) and Northern Michigan Christian AcademyChatfield taught and coached at the school and was the athletic director between 2010 and 2014, according to his LinkedIn profile. His father Rusty is pastor of the church, the school superintendent and a teacher.
State police spokesperson Shanon Banner declined to provide additional information.
'She did what she's supposed to do. She went to the immediate jurisdiction that she thought was appropriate,' the accuser's attorney Jamie White told AP. 'Her and her family, they're working through it. They're looking forward to working with law enforcement to bring this allegation to conclusion and (bring) accountability for others that have been harmed.'
Chatfield, the youngest House speaker in more than a century, was the Republican leader for two years and was among seven Michigan GOP lawmakers who met with then-President Donald Trump at the White House as Trump tried to overturn Democrat Joe Biden's win in the state.
The 33-year-old left the House in 2020 due to term limits.
During his time in the Legislature Chatfield was arrested at the Pellston Airport for attempting to bring a loaded handgun onto an airplane, Lansing City Pulse reported.
No criminal charges were filed but he was forced to pay a fine for having an unregistered firearm as well as a fine to the Transportation Security Administration.