Michigan Republican Scandals | Updated List of GOP Scandals in MI

Scandal Categories

Michigan Republican U.S. Congress Member & Candidate Scandals

  • Tom BarrettTom BarrettU.S. Rep Nominee [R-MI]Twitter icon5k
    Twitter icon5k  
    10/14/24
    Violated election law by displaying the wrong election date in a newspaper advertisement targeting black voters while using the correct date in all other ads including one that was almost exactly the same but targeted white voters
    According to an official complaint filed by the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus
  • Mark SiljanderMark SiljanderFmr. U.S. Representative
       
    1/12/12
    Accepted 50k to secretly and illegally lobby for the USA to remove a sanctioned organization from the "specially designated global terrorist" list and then lied to the FBI when they questioned him
    According to charging documents filed by federal officials
  • Jordan HaskinsJordan HaskinsFmr. U.S. Rep Nominee [R-MI]
       
    6/27/14
    Engaged in a sexual fetish called "cranking" where he broke into vehicles, disconnected the spark plug wires and turned on the ignition while masturbating of which he was caught in the act four times in a 9-month period
    According to charging documents filed by local police

Michigan Republican Executive Branch Scandals

  • Matt DePernoMatt DePernoFmr. Att. General NomineeTwitter icon45k
    8/01/23
    Organized a group to illegally seize voting machines used in the 2020 election and perform "tests" on the equipment which election security experts warn compromised the machines and could have altered the votes cast on them
    According to charging documents filed by state officials

Michigan Republican State Legislator Scandals

  • Lee ChatfieldLee ChatfieldFmr. House Speaker [R-MI]A+ NRA Rating
    4/16/24
    Stole over $132,000 from multiple political accounts to pay for vacations with his family, housing costs and personal credit card statements by siphoning money from a loosely regulated political account that prosecutors alleged he used as his own "unregulated slush fund" into his own pocket
    Allegedly according to reporting from credible media outlets
    1/07/22
    Had extramarital affairs with multiple women over a yearslong period
    According to a statement in which he admitted to the affairs while denying a related sexual assault allegation
    1/07/22
    Allegedly raped and sexually abused a minor over many years beginning when she was fifteen years old and continued well into her adulthood while being married the entire time
    According to a lawsuit filed by the alleged victim and reported by local media
    7/31/18
    Attempted to board an airplane at Pellston Regional Airport in Michigan with an unregistered loaded handgun he had in a carryon bag and was fined nearly $4,000 by the TSA
    According to a report filed by TSA in conjunction with local police
  • Matt HallState Representative [R-MI]
       
    9/19/23
    Wrote two threatening emails in all caps to a fellow student that warned he had just put a bullet inside his shotgun with the student's "NAME ON IT" and told him that he "BETTER WATCH OUT!!" if he didn't want trouble
    Allegedly according to reporting from credible media outlets
  • Tim KellyTim KellyFmr. State Representative
       
    9/15/15
    Kissed fellow state rep Tara Mack with her pants down inside a car at a local park while also being nearly twenty years older than her and married with four children
    According to a report filed by the park ranger who caught them
  • Cindy GamratCindy GamratFmr. State Representative
       
    9/10/15
    Had an extramarital affair with fellow state representative Todd Cotter and then used public funds to cover up the affair which resulted in her being expelled from the Michigan House
    According to an investigation conducted by the Michigan House
  • Todd CourserTodd CourserFmr. State Representative
       
    8/07/15
    Engaged in an extramarital affair with fellow state representative Cindy Gamrat and then concocted a wild story that would allege he solicited a male prostitute to keep their affair from becoming public
    According to audio recordings reported on by The Detroit News
  • Daire RendonFmr. State Representative
       
    8/01/23
    Organized a group to illegally seize voting machines used in the 2020 election and perform "tests" on the equipment which election security experts warn compromised the machines and could have altered the votes cast on them
    According to charging documents filed by state officials
  • Rick JohnsonFmr. State Representative
       
    4/06/23
    Accepted $110,200 in cash and other bribes including thousands of dollars' worth of sex with a prostitute and chartered flights from a businessman and two lobbyists in exchange for approving their medical marijuana business licenses during his time as chair of Michigan's marijuana licensing board
    According to charging documents filed by federal prosecutors

Michigan Republican City Official Scandals

  • Paul ManniPaul ManniFmr. City Council Nominee
       
    8/09/22
    Forged signatures on at least nine absentee voter applications for people who were unaware he was submitting the request and lied to the county clerk by attesting he had permission to deliver the applications
    According to charging documents filed by local officials

Other Michigan Republican Scandals

  • James ChapmanJames ChapmanCommissioner [R-MI]
       
    7/09/23
    Kicked a fellow state GOP official Mark DeYoung in the groin and then grabbed him by the legs and knocked him to the ground as soon as DeYoung opened the door to a reportedly "closed" meeting Chapman didn't want him attending
    According to a report filed by local police
  • Brian McAllisterCommissioner [R-MI]
       
    3/14/23
    Drove in a way that state police pulled him over on suspicion of drunk driving resulting in his arrest after they determined he was under the influence
    According to arrest records filed by local police
    Was pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving and had a BAC more than twice the legal limit of 0.17 after submitting to a breathalyzer test
    According to arrest records filed by local police
  • Charles FinleyCommissioner [R-MI]
       
    10/26/22
    Falsely identified himself as a police officer and prevented a school bus with children on board from leaving before state police arrived after getting involved in a private dispute between two children who inadvertently bumped heads
    According to a police report filed by state police