LANSING (WWJ) — Former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield and his wife, Stephanie, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to more than a dozen felony charges related to an alleged criminal enterprise during his time in office.
Last month Chatfield was charged with 13 felonies in connection with political nonprofit money he allegedly used to fund a lavish lifestyle that included trips to exotic locations — including the Bahamas and Universal Studios in Orlando — as well as luxury shopping and other personal uses.
On a previously scheduled trip to Kentucky this week, the Chatfields were arraigned Thursday morning via Zoom. They are expected to attend Saturday's Kentucky Derby after the judge granted a request to leave the state, according to reports.
Lee Chatfield's attorney, Mary Chartier, says the ex-Speaker of the House has been "wrongfully maligned" since Attorney General Dana Nessel's office launched an investigation in 2022.
"It has been almost two and a half years that Mr. Chatfield has had to live under the umbrella of allegations being made. His allegations, his life, have been in the media regularly. He has been wrongfully maligned, there's been speculation, rumor, innuendo, false claims," Chartier said during Thursday's arraignment.
While the Chatfields are being asked to turn over their passports when they return from Kentucky, Chartier argued that Chatfield is not a flight risk.
"He has five young children, he has no history of failure to appear in court because he's never had to be in court for any sort of criminal offense," Chartier said. "And after two and a half years of being falsely accused, he is looking forward to his day in court and fighting this. Mr. Chatfield is not a flight risk at all."
Assistant Attorney General William Rollstin called the allegations against Chatfield "serious offenses."
When announcing the charges last month, Nessel noted many of the credit card charges that were reimbursed by the Peninsula Fund money were "unquestionably personal and only personal."
Two former staffers for Chatfield — Rick and Anne Minard — were also charged last December, accused of conducting a criminal enterprise while working for him, including embezzling funds from nonprofits and campaign committees.
The next court date for the Chatfields has been scheduled for June 13.
