LANSING, Mich. (WWJ) -- A Macomb County Republican lawmaker who was stripped of his committee assignments amid a recently launched Michigan State Police investigation has denied allegations of domestic abuse.
Speaker of the House Jason Wentworth confirmed Wednesday that Rep. Steve Marino, R-Harrison Township, former chair of the House Commerce and Tourism Committee, had been relieved of his committee assignments.
That news broke the same day Rep. Mari Manoogian, D-Birmingham, released a statement addressing a “volatile relationship” with Marino.
“The unfortunate reality is that many people in our society have experienced domestic abuse, which often comes from someone we would never expect,” Manoogian’s statement on Wednesday said. “None of us are immune to a volatile relationship, regardless of our career. It can happen right here in our legislature, where abuse of power and threats to ruin a colleague’s reputation, as well as threats of public shaming, can be used to intimidate fellow members of the legislature.”
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Marino has since come forward to deny the allegations of domestic abuse, though he did confirm he and Manoogian had previously dated, a relationship he says ended “well over a year ago,” according to a report from the Detroit Free Press.
Marino noted he regrets not disclosing the relationship to Speaker Wentworth, but denied Manoogian’s allegations.
"However, I will be clear: the insinuations made are nothing more than politically motivated character assassination that I am confident will conclude as a waste of the public's time. I look forward to fulfilling my duties and maintaining the trust I've worked so hard to build during my seven years in public office,” Marino said in a statement.
Michigan State Police confirmed to WWJ on Wednesday they received a complaint against Marino late Tuesday night, but could not disclose further details. The timeline and the nature of the alleged abuse remain unclear.
Wentworth said in a statement Wednesday the allegations prompted him to remove Marino from committee assignments, saying he “will always prioritize the safety of state legislators and those who are serving their community at the state Capitol.”
“Once I learned of this situation, I took immediate action. Going forward, the House is honoring Rep. Manoogian's request for privacy while others look into the allegations,” Wentworth’s statement said.
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