The probe is completely ridiculous and part of the reason DePerno decided to run for attorney general, he told Bridge, likening it totalitarianism since Nessels office battled him as opposing counsel in the Antrim County case. Matt DePerno has been dodging questions about his personal finances for years, and this is one more reason why Michiganders cant trust him to be their next AG," said Emily Trifone, deputy communications director at the Democratic Attorneys General Association. At issue was DePernos effort to remove Cass County Judge Michael Dodge from the case, arguing the judge could not be impartial because he owned property on a separate lake. Kari Lake, a champion for election integrity and the America First Movement, has officially endorsed Matt DePerno for MI GOP Chairman. But Greene's organization changed course and endorsed DePerno earlier this month. Whitmer" for her nursing home policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, called for increased transparency standards for state government and voiced opposition to abortion. Kallman declined to detail the issues. 500 Terry Francois St. SF, CA 94158. info@mysite.com 123-456-7890. In 2005, DePerno launched his own law firm in Kalamazoo County, where he's practiced tax and real estate law. Gretchen Whitmer in public polling and in the last election. John Engler. Matt attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree. Michigan GOP Set to Nominate Election-Denying Lawyer Backed by Trump You must be logged in to post a comment Trump had also endorsed DePerno in that . It was also in place as DePerno met on Jan. 6, 2021, with staff for then-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about the election, a convening he has acknowledged on a Republican group's candidate questionnaire. New York University School of Law Master of Laws (LL.M.) I think the party recreates itself locally. The guys got no ethics at all, William Buhl, a retired Van Buren County Circuit Court judge and former Republican, told Bridge. I think were going to do local infrastructure and getting back to basics, the blocking and tackling of winning elections.". But court records show law firm colleagues confronted DePerno in October 2005 and presented him with evidence detailed in a confidential memo included in public filings, along with 190 pages of internal billing documents. Consumers Energy, Manchester Market partner for free community breakfast, Career partnerships expand within Manchester school district, Dance Masters of Michigan attend solo title event competition, Village establishes change of use ordinance, Environmental incentives to conservation easements: Residents learn about land management & preservation, reflecting the community of Manchester since 2013. DePerno, who had worked with the Moffits on tax issues in the past, allegedly convinced the couple he could negotiate with the IRS. We report because the news impacts all of us. State Rep. Ryan Berman is also running. 0:57. CONTACT. "Thats what I am counting on, Greene said. Thus began another unexpected legal fight, as the Moffits hired a new attorney to stop the foreclosure sale and sue DePerno for legal malpractice, alleging he fought their insurer without their consent, overbilled and padded billings, including a $13,000 charge to reassemble their case file after DePerno parted ways with his law firm at the time, Veritas Group. The ProAssurance Casualty Company alleged DePerno made unreasonable demands of attorneys they had hired to represent him in the Moffits malpractice suit. If you care about Michigan, please support our work. I honestly believe on the first vote shes going to have the most votes," Forton said in an interview on the convention floor of Karamo. Longtime GOP mega-donor Ron Weiser, a wealthy Ann Arbor businessman, opted against seeking another term as party chairman. DePerno and state Rep. Daire Rendon, R-Lake City, were part of a group accused of "gain(ing) unauthorized access and compromised tabulators" in Roscommon County, Richfield Township, Lake Township and Irving Township between March and June of 2021, state attorneys allege. Ultimately, I collected the fees that were due to me, DePerno told Bridge. Could that Judge then rule on rape cases, or would that create a bias for the Judge? Trump-backed GOP pick for Michigan AG has been a vocal supporter of In another suit, the Michigan Court of Appeals dismissed a DePerno request to disqualify a judge from a lawsuit involving lakefront property easement, and highlighted an unusual comparisonDePerno had made in a 2015 court hearing. Among the questionable billings: DePerno allegedly charged the Moffits $1,024.35 to videotape a deposition that a federal magistrate had ordered him to personally pay as a sanction for obstructing an earlier deposition, coaching a witness and raising utterly meritless objections. Hes also suggested banning Plan B, an emergency contraceptive that can prevent pregnancy if taken within three days of having unprotected sex. When Courser and DePerno sued The Detroit News over its original reporting on the sex scandal, Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Timothy Connors dismissed the case and ordered Courser and DePerno to jointly pay $79,701.63 in sanctions. DePerno and Karamo were viewed as the favorites because they have been working with delegates for more than a year as it was the delegates who nominated them for attorney general and secretary of state last year. He has a wife and three children. His campaign website says he will "restore law and order" and "uphold the Constitution.". The Michigan Court of Appeals ultimately upheld the decision to allow Dodge to remain a judge. "Were going to win.. DePerno denied many of the accusations but eventually negotiated a settlement with the Moffits, whose attorney declined to discuss terms of the deal. She said in her victory speech she plans to move the state forward over the next four years. DePerno has also referred to Nessel, who is gay, as a groomer, which has drawn condemnation. During her speech before the first vote, Karamo touted her decision last year not to concede the secretary of state race to Benson in November and said the party's current leadership operated like a "political mafia." The office of Dana Nessel, the Michigan attorney general, said that Matthew DePerno and other people had persuaded local clerks in three counties to hand over election equipment. DePerno refused. Kallman had hoped Greenlee would pull out an upset. (Bridge photo by Jonathan Oosting). DePerno, speaking with Bridge, called the assault allegation an outrageous attempt by the Moffits to avoid paying their legal bills. In at least one instance, DePerno admitted that he falsified billing to a clients account, the law firms attorney said in a court filing. In August, Nessel sought a special prosecutor to consider charges against DePerno and eight others over an alleged conspiracy to gain improper access to voting machines. She previously worked as an assistant prosecutor in the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. Matt DePerno concedes Michigan AG race to Dana Nessel Published November 9, 2022 2022 Midterm Elections FOX 2 Detroit Whitmer's victory speech: Michigan is about to 'step on the. Matt DePerno, a Republican candidate for Michigan attorney general, has appeared at Capitol rallies calling for a forensic audit of the 2020 presidential election. Recently, in an election of national significance, a Donald Trump-backed candidate was easily bested in his quest to lead the Michigan Republican Party, a state considered pivotal for control of both the Senate and the presidency in 2024. He cut his teeth as a tax attorney in southwest Michigan but eventually expanded his Portage-based practice. People have to see something worth investing in," she said, "and the party hasnt proven itself to be such.. LANSING Former President Donald Trump endorsed Kalamazoo attorney Matt DePerno on Friday in the race for chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. ", More:Matt DePerno's rapid rise in GOP politics mired in controversy, lawsuits. Lawyers for The News attempted to collect the money from DePerno but said in court documents that DePerno transferred his interest in a 2015 Ford Flex and 2012 Ford Focus to his wife, Laura, "with actual intent to hinder, delay and/or defraud The News from collecting the amount awarded." He picked the fight and then billed them $130,000. Trump endorses Matt DePerno in race for Michigan Republican Party chair Baker didn't respond to a request for comment. DePerno had padded billings, claimed excessive write offs, manipulated the firms timekeeping system and logged hours with no explanation, according to the interoffice memo prepared by Kreis Enderle administrator Mike Beam. According to unofficial results, Nessel leads DePerno by 300,000 votes - about 7 points. Now calling himself a constitutional attorney, DePerno told Bridge his favorite cases are those that involve constitutional rights people who have arguments that they've lost their rights because of government overreach.. Greene once tweeted that DePerno would be an "unmitigated disaster." 2023 Bridge Michigan. But Democrats have slammed his continued unproven claims about fraud in the 2020 election. DePerno, 53, is a Portage-based attorney who primarily works on tax cases and worked primarily in Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties. On Nov. 8, voters will decide whether to put him in the attorney general's office. But he told Bridge he cannot discuss details because of a confidential settlement. DePerno also has fiercely loyal supporters who defend his legal work, including clients, who contend hed make a strong attorney general. We report because the news impacts all of us. Some Republicans,including political strategist John Yob, now view DePerno as their best hope to win one of Michigan's top three offices on Election Day. GOP's AG Nominee In Michigan Pushes Election Fraud Lies While Facing After practicing law as a partner at a large law firm for 10 years, Matthew opened his own law practice in 2005, DePerno Law, PLLC. 38th State Senate Candidate for Michigan. DePerno was able to obtain jobless assistance by presenting paperwork to the state indicating he was fired for failing to promote a harmonious relationship with the firm, not fraud. And I continuously showed that throughout my career. Weve been there for you with daily Michigan COVID-19 news; reporting on the emergence of the virus, daily numbers with our tracker and dashboard, exploding unemployment, and we finally were able to report on mass vaccine distribution. He cut his teeth as a tax attorney in southwest Michigan but eventually expanded his Portage-based practice. Feb 10 Don't miss our Pre-Convention Rally with President Donald Trump THIS MONDAY! "And yet, here I am running for attorney general to restore integrity, justice and morality in Michigan.. Matt DePerno, an attorney general candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump, sued the firm over his firing and denied the allegations in court. Forton endorsed Karamo before the first round of voting. DePerno has begun to pivot to other issues during the general election campaign, but a special prosecutor is investigating him and others on allegations they illegally accessed voting machine equipment in their efforts to investigate the election. $400,000 for an Election Fraud Defense Fund in 2020, and critics have urged him to disclose what he did with that money. @mdeperno. Nessel, the Democratic attorney general, later acknowledged that her office is investigating DePerno but said she recused herself from the probe given the political implications and will appoint a special counsel if charges are warranted. DePerno has called Nessel's allegations garbage and said she's using the investigatory powers of her office for political purposes. Michigan GOP precinct delegates will vote to endorse a candidate at an April 23 convention that will decide the partys de facto nominee to take on Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel in November. In an interview Tuesday, DePerno told Bridge he and colleagues had a dispute on where the firm was going but resolved the case with mutual satisfaction. He declined to discuss specific allegations, citing the secrecy agreement. Hilson, hasn't yet announced a decision. More:Before Matt DePerno launched a bid for attorney general, he cleared up an arrest warrant. On February 20, 2014, Mr. DePerno physically grabbed (me) by the shirt and informed me that if I did not immediately pay the attorney fees owed that my wife and I would lose our home in a matter of weeks, Ronald Moffit, who died in 2019, said in hissworn affidavit. The Protect the People political action committee called him a "corrupt lawyer" in one of its ads in recent days. Samantha DePerno, 19, began her sophomore year at MSU this past Fall, 2021. The grievance commission, the investigative arm of the Michigan Supreme Court, only makes its findings public if it authorizes formal charges against a lawyer with the state Attorney Discipline Board, which it did not do for DePerno. Nessel joked about a "drag queen for every school" during an event in June. Sponsor Greenlee, who's worked in politics for more than three decades, appeared to be gaining some level of support on Saturday. He alleged oppression of a minority shareholder and said his termination caused extreme mental anguish, emotional distress, shock and humiliation.. Lena Epstein (University of Michigan Board of Regents) - $319,210. They've raised concerns about Dominion Voting Systems, the equipment used in Antrim County. Who's in, out of race? On Feb. 6, 2020, Connors signed a bench warrant for DePerno's arrest and for him to be brought before the court "immediately" for failure to appear, according to a document. We're not just a news organization, we're also your neighbors. Now calling himself a constitutional attorney, DePerno told Bridge his favorite cases are those that involve constitutional rights people who have arguments that theyve lost their rights because of government overreach.. As a tax attorney who worked primarily in Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties, his legal career has been marked by discord. I will issue bench warrants.". In May 2021, a local judge blocked DePerno's push for an "independent and nonpartisan forensic audit" in Antrim County. He went on to repeatedly appear in Antrim County court to challenge the November 2020 election results while the warrant was in place. Two years into what had become a vicious legal fight, DePerno allegedly pressured the Moffits to sign a fee agreement that put their property mortgages up as collateral in the event they could not pay DePernos legal bills, which Buhl described as an unorthodox deal the kind of which he had never seen before. ", We're not just a news organization, we're also your neighbors. I've taken on cases that people even in the media have disagreed with.. ", I have been told by our elected officials to stop talking about this issue," DePerno said of the last presidential election, which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden in Michigan by 3 percentage points or 154,000 votes. At issue was DePernos effort to remove Cass County Judge Michael Dodge from the case, arguing the judge could not be impartial because he owned property on a separate lake. Matt DePerno, an attorney general candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump, sued the firm over his firing and denied the allegations in court. Fill in the form below and we'll be in touch. As a tax attorney who worked primarily in Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties, his legal career has been marked by discord. I have fought to try to vindicate President Trump when no one else would., Doing the right thing doesnt always make you popular," DePerno added moments later. "Thank goodness that most of my cases were nothing like this one. Matthew DePerno for Attorney General Home About Platform Volunteer State Convention Delegate DONATE 517-618-9655 Team@Depernoformi.com 3105 S Martin Luther King Blvd #104 Lansing, MI 48910 Matt's Plan To Fix the Michigan GOP FILL EVERY PRECINCT DELEGATE SLOT In April, we the people pulled off a HUGE win. DePerno is considered a frontrunner for the Michigan Republican Partys nomination for attorney general, along with former state House Speaker Tom Leonard, the GOP nominee in 2018. "As attorney general, you're the state's chief law enforcement officer. Michigans nonpartisan, nonprofit news source. Courser, who was accused of using House staff and resources to help cover up an extra-marital affair, ultimately pleaded no contest to a charge of willful neglect of duty by a public officer, a one-year misdemeanor. Matt DePerno sought to foreclose on his clients' property. Now he wants DePerno is best known for defending former state Rep. Todd Courser after a2015 sex scandalcover up and challengingAntrim County election resultsin a failed lawsuit that spawned ongoing conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for "for all the damage they have done" in office. DePerno is a workaholic who goes to great lengths for his clients and is like an encyclopedia of law and the Constitution, Bailey told Bridge. Metro Detroit lawyer Jalal J. Dallo, who practices criminal defense, said bench warrants are typically ordered when someone is supposed to appear in court but doesn't show up. He argued Michigan needed "the guidance of a fighter. It's unclear why DePerno was never arrested. Getting Trumps endorsement was huge for DePernos campaign. Guy's office sent the official numbers to the Bureau of Elections at 6:35 a.m. on Nov. 7, 2020. Were good neighbors and were going to be winning elections again.. Their insurance company initially offered to pay them $123,360 for personal property losses and living expenses but asked a judge to determine whether another $80,000 should go to the Moffits or the IRS, to whom they owed money, according to court filings. Hilson, a Democrat who was named the special prosecutor in September, continues to review the case. "From his dangerous stances on abortion and birth control, to his embrace of Donald Trumps most fringe election conspiracy theories, its clear that Michigan needs to reelect Dana Nessel as AG.". Asked about his candidate's changing financial status, Shepard said DePerno's law firm attracted a lot of new business during the period after early 2020 partly because of restrictions Gov. DePerno had padded billings, claimed excessive write offs, manipulated the firms timekeeping system and logged hours with no explanation, according to the interoffice memo prepared by Kreis Enderle administrator Mike Beam. In his original complaint, DePerno alleged he was wrongfully fired from his $110,000 job because he had raised questions about the financial operations of the firm. Matthew DePerno for Attorney General In an interview Tuesday, DePerno told Bridge he and colleagues had a dispute on where the firm was going but resolved the case with mutual satisfaction. He declined to discuss specific allegations, citing the secrecy agreement. ", Karamo dismissed concerns about declining donations to the state party, saying thats going to change right away.. State Rep. Steve Carra, R-Three Rivers, has been an outspoken DePerno supporter. "And I assume that the next step would be after this debtor's exam today to determine who owes Mr. DePerno money, and then they're going to proceed to garnish all of his, or what they can, of his receivables.". 2022 Michigan Attorney General election - Wikipedia While the case was ultimately settled, what he saw in pre-trial hearings was abhorrent, Buhl told Bridge Michigan. Anthony DePerno, 21, is majoring in Supply Chain Management at MSU and is expected to graduate this Spring, 2022. Ironically, DePerno, who was a fierce opponent of the 2020 election results and consistently denied their outcome, conceded the race for attorney general prior to it being called by media outlets. Aug 7 (Reuters) - The Republican nominee for Michigan attorney general led a team that gained unauthorized access to voting equipment while hunting for evidence to support former President. DePerno is well-known and well-liked by many clients, but his legal career has been marked by some discord. Last Name. In 1994, he received his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and the following year his Masters in Taxation Law (LL.M.) I'll continue to write good people in on my election ballots. Those allegations, contained in never-before-reported documents out of Kalamazoo County Circuit Court, were only made public because DePerno sued the firm in an attempt to cash out his shares and transfer the lease on a company vehicle that was repossessed after his firing. However, Democrats overperformed in many of their races, polls have consistently shown. Who's in, out of race? DePerno was fired from one law firm, fought over client records after leaving a second firm and was accused of assaulting a client amid a fee dispute, according to court documents and transcripts reviewed by Bridge. The secret to a good campaign is to peak at the right time," Greenlee said. The numbers became jumbled during the communication of the unofficial results to the county's election management system. DePerno also transferred "his interest in the marital home" to his wife's trust for $1, according to the lawyers for The News. "I've been doing this for 25 years," DePerno said of his legal background. He has been defending America's constitutional civil liberties for over 25 years. "I think it's extremely problematic," Truscott told Bridge Michigan. Industrious Republican. The two have been married for over 26 years and raised three children together. Instead, the Oversight Committee urged Nesselto investigate those who have been utilizing misleading and false information about Antrim County to raise money or publicity for their own ends.. Robert Baker, DePerno's lawyer for a portion of the case, told the court at one point that DePerno had "virtually no assets," according to a court transcript. Matt DePerno has earned the endorsement of the Michigan Republican Party to take on incumbent Democrat Dana Nessel in November. "I don't have a bad word to say about him, and other than people he grew up with and has been around his whole life, I probably got to know him better than anybody since the November election," Bailey said. Matt DePerno: Liar, Liar Pants on Fire - Michigan Democratic Party but he had a falling out with the firm, which accused him of "acts of fraud and dishonesty" and alleged he "padded" his billable hours. The billing allegations could be a disqualifying factor for DePerno as a candidate, said John Truscott, a Republican public relations professional who served as press secretary under former Gov. DePerno called Buhls accusations total nonsense and told Bridge the matter was ultimately dismissed by the grievance commission, as it should be., While Buhl said the professional code of conduct for attorneys prohibits him from revealing results of the grievance commission investigation, he called DePernos characterization of dismissal the farthest thing from the truth.. Firm: Michigan AG hopeful Matt DePerno fired over padded, false billings, Campaign donors love a winner, dump Michigan GOP for Democrats after election, Turns out, young voters didnt sway 22 election in Michigan, records show, Basically broke, Michigan GOP to charge delegates to attend convention, Share the article you just read on Twitter, Share the article you just read on Facebook, Share the article you just read via email, Michigan stopped Ohio toxic waste last week, but we import waste every day, Democrats push Michigan gun reforms. Michigan Republican convention to decide next party leader Lansing Republican Matt DePerno's embrace of former President Donald Trump's unproven election fraud claims moved the Kalamazoo trial lawyer from political obscurity to the front lines. It takes working together to restore this great state. Trump has thrown significant political weight behind DePerno, endorsing him, speaking on his behalf at aMar-A-Lago fundraiserand announcing plans to stump for him and other endorsed candidates at aMichigan rally on April 2. But six days after the Moffits refused to pay his fees, DePerno took action to try and collect: He began foreclosure proceedings to sell the Moffits new home and the land where their old home had burned down, according to court filings. In the Republican Party, the top fundraisers in the most recent semiannual reporting period were: Tudor Dixon (Governor) - $7,362,895. Heres what the laws are now, Michigan State shooting update: 2 more students released from hospital, Michigan has far more power outages this week than other Midwest states, Michigan outraged toxic waste from Ohio derailment shipped to Belleville, MSU shooting: fourth victim identified, discharged from hospital, Michigan lawmakers send Whitmer tax cuts; $180 payments are dead, Michigans lousy infrastructure has many begging: Fix the damn noisy roads, Michigan State shooting: Alerts to students delayed as police rushed to campus, Where Michigan attorney general foes Dana Nessel and Matthew DePerno stand, Dana Nessel: What to know about Michigan Democratic attorney general, Matt DePerno banks on Trump bump in Republican race for attorney general, Firm: Michigan AG hopefulDePerno fired over padded, false billings, DePerno, others linked to vote machine tampering case headed to special prosecutor, Matthew DePerno: Dana Nessels election probe worthy of Saddam Hussein.

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