Former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield denies sexual assault claims, claims ‘year-long’ relationship with accuser

A former Michigan congressman has denied allegations that he subjected a woman to repeated sexual assaults in the several years since she was a teenager.

Former Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield has admitted to knowing the 27-year-old woman who accused him, but claimed Friday that the relationship was Consensus. The woman, who has not been made public identified, said Chatfield began assaulting her at Northern Michigan Gaylord Baptist Church about 12 years ago when she was 15, her attorney told Lansing City Pulse.

Chatfield, who was elected a home speaker in his last term and left office due to term limits in December 2020, addressed the allegations on Friday, vehemently denying the claims and swear against them. In a statement through his attorney, the lawmaker acknowledged the affair with his accuser “spanned many years,” but stressed that it was an ongoing relationship between the two. “adults agree.”

“Mr. Chatfield is innocent of the false rape charges brought against him. He had sexual relations while married, including an affair with the woman now is claiming that she was raped,” wrote his attorney, Mary Chartier.

Chatfield’s attorney suggested that the Michigan Republican must deeply regret the lengthy encounter that she said “caused great pain to his wife and family.”

“But he did not assault this woman in any way during their adult relationship that spanned many years,” she wrote. “He intends to vigorously fight these false claims.”

Michigan State Police said it would investigate the allegations against Chatfield after the agency was notified of the complaint by the Lansing Police Department last week.

According to the accuser’s attorney, Jamie White, who has represented sexual assault survivors abused by Larry Nassar, Chatfield was employed at a northern Michigan religious school before he was elected. entered the state legislature in 2014. His father, Rusty Chatfield, was an administrator at the school, according to its website.

Lee Chatfield is both a teacher at the school, as well as a men’s soccer coach and athletic director, according to a biography listed on the Michigan House Republican website.

After leaving office, Chatfield served briefly as the chief executive officer of Southwest Michigan First, an economic development group, but he resigned because of his record on LGBTQ issues.

The whistleblower’s attorney said Chatfield’s alleged sexual abuse lasted until July 2021.

“We strongly believe that between the Michigan State Police and our independent investigation, he will be held accountable,” said White. Talk to Detroit News. “This young woman is terrified of what is coming for her and how the former spokesperson will react. We are putting our arms around her to make sure she has the tools to deal with this.”