Whitmer" for her nursing home policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, called for increased transparency standards for state government and voiced opposition to abortion. An incumbent attorney general hasn't lost reelection in Michigan since 1954. Beginningin June 1995, he practiced at Kreis, Enderle, Callander & Hudgins, 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. He moved to Kalamazoo Michigan in 1995 after law school, where he currently resides with his wife of 25 years, Laura and their two dogs Toby and Kodak. His clients included former state Rep. Todd Courser, a Lapeer area Republican who was accused of misusing taxpayer dollars to cover up an affair, and Tim Rugg, an Ann Arbor firefighter who challenged the city's COVID-19 vaccine policy. "He will never give up, and thats why they absolutely cannot stand him.". Could that Judge then rule on rape cases, or would that create a bias for the Judge? 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." He also represented former state Rep. Todd Courser in a sex scandal cover-up case, which ended with Courser pleading no contest to willful neglect of duty by a public officer. It just screams out: This is why people hate lawyers. We dont need this in our profession.. Matt DePerno, an attorney general candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump, sued the firm over his firing and denied the allegations in court. She was speaking out against "fake issues" that she said were dividing people. State Rep. Steve Carra, R-Three Rivers, has been an outspoken DePerno supporter. On. Elections 2022. Not too many people would have stuck by my family and myself like Matt has.". Republican activists across Michigan will soon gather to select the next leader of the Michigan GOP.The decision will help decide the future of the Republican Party after a midterm election that . And when DePerno asked her to enter the room to notarize mortgage documents, the secretary said it was clear Cathy Moffit had been crying and did not want to sign the papers. And the GOP-controlled Michigan Senate Oversight Committee accused DePerno of spreading "misleading information and illogical conclusions.". "Incredibly, the appeals court noted, DePerno made the following analogy: lets assume a Judge was raped. "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.". Why Michigan Republicans are fretting about 2024 | The Hill Trump, who's campaigning for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024, endorsed DePerno for party chair in January. Published reports say Nessel's office is asking that a special prosecutor investigate whether the Republican candidate for state attorney general, Matt DePerno, and others should be charged in . Nessel joked about a "drag queen for every school" during an event in June. DePerno, who never held elected office, rode Trumps endorsement to win the Republican Party nomination over two candidates who have served in the Legislature. ", called on DePerno to detail what happened with the money, sought a special prosecutor to consider potential charges against DePerno and eight others because of an alleged "conspiracy" to gain improper access, The DePerno 9: Outspoken election critics tied to Michigan tabulator 'conspiracy', a Democrat who was named the special prosecutor in September, endorsed him to be Michigan's attorney general on Sept. 16, 2021, vowed to "investigate and prosecute Gov. 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. Democratic President Joe Biden beat Trump by 154,188 votes in Michigan. "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.". "The sanction award far exceeds the petitioners' ability to pay," Baker wrote in a filing on Jan. 9, 2020. DePerno, 53, is a Portage-based attorney who primarily works on tax cases and worked primarily in Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties. Ultimately, I collected the fees that were due to me, DePerno told Bridge. The secret to a good campaign is to peak at the right time," Greenlee said. Matt DePerno, an attorney general candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump, sued the firm over his firing and denied the allegations in court. Whitmer won her first term by 9 points over Republican Bill Schuette in 2018. As DePerno worked on the 2020 election, his law office's website linked to a fundraising page that brought in nearly $400,000. The Antrim County case made DePerno a national figure in Trumps campaign to overturn the election but prompted criticism from a Republican-led Michigan Senate panel that accused him of making false claims for personal profit, echoing allegations that marred DePernos legal career nearly two decades earlier. The warrant was recalled when DePerno and The News reached a $20,000 settlement in May 2021. I have always supported Matt DePerno, said state Rep. Angela Rigas, R-Caledonia, as she entered the convention on Saturday. DePerno also has fiercely loyal supporters who defend his legal work, including clients, who contend hed make a strong attorney general. 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.. 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. 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. Anthony DePerno, 21, is majoring in Supply Chain Management at MSU and is expected to graduate this Spring, 2022. LaBrant labeled DePerno a "fool" with a "checkered past.". Guy's office sent the official numbers to the Bureau of Elections at 6:35 a.m. on Nov. 7, 2020. I've taken on cases that people even in the media have disagreed with.. Hes also suggested banning Plan B, an emergency contraceptive that can prevent pregnancy if taken within three days of having unprotected sex. In at least one instance, DePerno admitted that he falsified billing to a clients account, the law firms attorney said in a court filing. But court records show judges have repeatedly sanctioned or complained about his courtroom conduct. Natalie DePerno, 23, graduated with an accounting degree from MSU. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been declared the winner in the race for the state's top job. If you cant abide by the laws and the rules, how do you have the moral authority to prosecute criminals?. 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. "There is currently a hearing scheduled for March 12, 2020, at which time petitioners will presumably be arrested pursuant to the bench warrants," DePerno wrote. 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. And I think were peaking.". DePerno faces incumbent Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel on Nov. 8. I just think this guy is going to be looking for election fraud under rocks," LaBrant said. Chaos And Conspiracies: 12 Hours At A GOP Convention That Handed Trump A Republican-led state Senate panel that spent months investigating the contest foundno evidence of widespread fraud. DePerno has also referred to Nessel, who is gay, as a groomer, which has drawn condemnation. Dodge has since retired and told Bridge Michigan he did not remember the dispute well. Jason Roe, a former executive director of the Michigan Republican Party, said "crazy" had trumped Trump at Saturday's convention. Kari Lake, a champion for election integrity and the America First Movement, has officially endorsed Matt DePerno for MI GOP Chairman. DePerno wasnt paying attention in first grade when he was told how to behave himself, Magistrate Joseph Scoville said in announcing the sanctions at a May 2012 hearing, according to a transcript reviewed by Bridge. Who's in, out of race? But his supporters see him as a tenacious champion who's willing to take up causes others have declined. Dernis labeled DePerno a person of integrity. He went on to earn a graduate qualification at theNew York University School of Law. Matthew DePerno - Ballotpedia If you care about Michigan, please support our work. Getting Trumps endorsement was huge for DePernos campaign. Greenlee said Republicans were responding to his message of activating and engaging the delegates. Karamo beats DePerno in Michigan GOP chair race, moving the party More:As Michigan AG race narrows, Nessel's comments, cases take center stage. In an August interview, DePerno declined to say whether the money helped fund a group of "expert witnesses" who pushed to obtain and analyze voting tabulators in Michigan. Miller called it a sad day for the GOP. If you can't abide by the laws and the rules, how do you have the moral authority to prosecute criminals?". 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. Michigans nonpartisan, nonprofit news source. His work on an unsuccessful lawsuit challenging 2020 results in Antrim County put him on the front lines of Trumps attempt to overturn the election, and litigation involving that effort continues. Will you please support our nonprofit newsroom? Greene once tweeted that DePerno would be an "unmitigated disaster." CONTACT. That happens all the time, and then things are resolved.. "That would be a privileged question.". A year ago this month, DePerno stood on the steps of the state Capitol in front of a banner that told people to "demand a forensic audit" of the November 2020 election. "Were going to win.. But he never did, the Moffits attorney alleged in the malpractice suit. 2023 FOX Television Stations, The heaviest snow is behind us heading into the weekend, Snow storm shuts down Detroit Metro Airport, Power outages hit Metro Detroit hard as winter storm pounds area, WATCH - Jennifer Hammond talks with Detroit Titans guard Antoine Davis after coming up just short of the NCAA all-time scoring record, Southeast Michigan weather: The latest totals and what to expect tonight, Dead woman found tied up, wrapped in tarp in abandoned Monroe County building, sources say, Disneyland banned Rebel Wilson over selfie, actress says, Winter storm leaves 205k DTE customers without power, dry and mild weekend ahead, MSP: Driver of crashed car fatally struck on I-96, at-fault driver without license. Ive always proven that I dont back down from anyone, he said. Maddock called DePerno and Secretary of State hopeful Kristina Karamo the "strongest candidates" to address "the stolen 2020 election" and push for a "forensic audit" of the states voting in that contest. 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 well-known and well-liked by many clients, but his legal career has been marked by some discord. DePerno, who'd filed a lawsuit on behalf of a local resident claiming voting-machine fraud in Antrim County, more than 200 miles to the north, sent the clerk a subpoena demanding access to her. Lansing Kristina Karamo, who lost her secretary of state race by 14 percentage points but refused to concede, will lead the Michigan Republican Party following an 11-hour convention and three rounds of voting Saturday at the Lansing Center. Critics of Karamo questioned her ability to unite the party, raise money and her history of spreading unfounded conspiracy theories involving elections, porn and yoga. Elissa Slotkin announces bid to succeed Debbie Stabenow. Taxation 1994-95 University of Detroit Mercy School of Law 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, Report: Trump allies sought election data in Antrim, Wayne counties, Michigan GOP endorses Trump favorites DePerno, Karamo at convention, DePerno loses another bid for Antrim County audit as court dismisses appeal, Trump favorite Matt DePerno back in court, seeks another Antrim County audit, Trump fundraises for Karamo, but Michigan Democrats dominate money race, Michigan township braces for Trump rally: we dont have another option, Michigan AG hopeful Tom Leonards fundraising draws fairness concerns, Matt DePerno banks on Trump bump in Republican race for attorney general, Michigan AG candidate Matt DePerno gets his moment at Trumps Mar-A-Lago. Firm: Michigan AG hopeful Matt DePerno fired over 'padded,' false But he told Bridge he cannot discuss details because of a confidential settlement. Taxation 1994-95 University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Matthew DePerno for Michigan (@deperno4mi) / Twitter 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. "So a police officer will be able to see on their laptop that theres a bench warrant for this person.. Election Integrity Based. From beginning to end, the problem is you.. Tyson Shepard, DePerno's campaign manager, said the candidate would enforce the state's 1931 abortion ban, which prohibits the termination of any pregnancy except if necessary to preserve the life of the mother because it's the policy on the books. Conservative lawyer David Kallman, whose office is based in Lansing, said DePerno has done things he doesn't agree with. George Dernis, who DePerno has represented ina nearly eight-year legal battleover foreclosure of Michigan properties hed used as collateral to purchase a grocery store, said DePerno helped guide his family through hell and back., If it wasnt for Matt, wed be out on the streets, Dernis told Bridge. He has been defending America's constitutional civil liberties for over 25 years. The grievance commission can also privately admonish an attorney or place them on contractual probation, but those lighter punishments are not made public. Feb 10 Don't miss our Pre-Convention Rally with President Donald Trump THIS MONDAY! Matt is a native of Michigan and has been a Kalamazoo resident with his wife, Laura, since 1994 after receiving his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy. Trump had actually won the county by 3,788 votes, 61%-37%, a 7,048-vote swing from the unofficial results. And DePerno later sued their attorney unsuccessfully for defamation. We report because the news impacts all of us. He has a wife and three children. Since then, he's become a favorite among Michigan Republican delegates, and he helped negotiate a deal to delay feuding between party factions at an August convention. Connors previously ordered DePerno and Courser to pay a sanction of $79,701. It was a "trick," DePerno told the state Court of Appeals on Feb. 26, 2020. Were going to be a political machine that strikes fear in the heart of Democrats," Karamo told delegates. Gretchen Whitmer imposed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. ", Karamo dismissed concerns about declining donations to the state party, saying thats going to change right away.. "I've been doing this for 25 years," DePerno said of his legal background. The two have been married for over 26 years and raised three children together. "The Washtenaw County Sheriff Department said they thought the bench warrant was so outrageous that they did not consider it enforceable," Shepard said. The problematic initial numbers were caused by human errors: Election workers' failure to update equipment after additions to the ballot. Michigans nonpartisan, nonprofit news source. After realizing there were problems with the numbers, Antrim County Clerk Sheryl Guy's office canvassed the election results and reported official numbers. Bob LaBrant, a longtime Republican lawyer who previously worked for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, said he cast his absentee ballot for Nessel this fall. "Dana Nessel, the Radical Left, and the RINOs (Republicans in name only) are targeting Matt because he gets results and has exposed so much voter fraud in Antrim County, and many more places, in the 2020 election," Trump said at the time. In Ingham County, a judge overseeing Todd Coursers criminal case announced he might retire before his term ended because the headache of dealing with DePerno and the other attorneys started to eat away at him. Matthew DePerno, who is running for the Michigan Republican party's nomination for state attorney general, speaks at a rally hosted by former President Donald Trump on April 2, 2022 near. Karamo defeated unsuccessful GOP attorney general candidate Matt DePerno of Kalamazoo, a fellow election denier who was endorsed in the party chair race by Trump. 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. Kristina Karamo (Secretary of State) - $796,022. Buhl, the former judge, had already been retired for six years when he began observing DePernos legal work because he was asked to serve as an expert witness in the Moffits malpractice suit. Subject. I think its extremely problematic, Truscott told Bridge Michigan. In the Republican Party, the top fundraisers in the most recent semiannual reporting period were: Tudor Dixon (Governor) - $7,362,895. "Him and I had discussions as to whether I should run," DePerno said. Matthew DePerno is an attorney who serves clients worldwide from his office in Kalamazoo Michigan, USA. Ive taken on cases that people even in the media have disagreed with.. Especially if the Judge has expressed a dislike for rapists., Kent County Circuit Court Judge Donald A. Johnston, who presided over the disqualification hearing, denied DePernos request to remove Dodge, and noted that, "I don't know of any judges that have ever expressed a like for rapists.. John Engler. 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. Matts reports can be found at DePernoLaw.com. DePerno, who had worked with the Moffits on tax issues in the past, allegedly convinced the couple he could negotiate with the IRS. Michigan GOP delegates chose ex-President Donald Trump's candidates for attorney general, Matthew DePerno, and secretary of state, Kristina Karamo. 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. Who's in, out of race? A lawyer by trade, DePerno rose to political prominence challenging the 2020 presidential election results and spearheading a lawsuit over the vote in northern Michigan's Antrim County. The March 12, 2020, hearing was eventually canceled, according to court records. Matt DePerno, an attorney general candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump, sued the firm over his firing and denied the allegations in court. Then, on June 23, 2021, DePerno filed a motion to have the bench warrants set aside "nunc pro tunc," essentially meaning the cancellation should be retroactive to the day the warrants were issued in February 2020. And in a new sign of former President Donald Trump's diminishing influence, the women beat the Trump-endorsed ticket of Matt DePerno and Garrett Soldano to replace MAGA loyalist Meshawn Maddock and establishment fundraiser Ron Weiser. His campaign website says he will "restore law and order" and "uphold the Constitution.". 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. DePerno filed a lawsuit on behalf of Antrim County resident Bill Bailey, and he and his supporters claimed, without evidence, the problems were because of the technology itself. Repeating the Big Lie is dangerous and presents a very serious threat to our democracy," said Lavora Barnes, chairwoman of the Michigan Democrat Party, in April. (Bridge photo by Jonathan Oosting). Matt DePerno, a Republican candidate for Michigan attorney general, has appeared at Capitol rallies calling for a "forensic audit" of the 2020 presidential election. 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. Some attorneys are more challenging than others, Dodge said in an email. Democrat Attorney General Dana Nessel, a lawyer from Plymouth, Before Matt DePerno launched a bid for attorney general, he cleared up an arrest warrant, As Michigan AG race narrows, Nessel's comments, cases take center stage. Kallman declined to detail the issues. It takes working together to restore this great state. DePerno refused. Ann Arbor Republican Matt DePerno, who's asking voters to make him Michigan's top law enforcement official on Nov. 8, faced a bench warrant for his arrest about two months before he. 0:57. DePerno raised nearly $400,000 for an Election Fraud Defense Fund in 2020, and critics have urged him to disclose what he did with that money. Hilson, a Democrat who was named the special prosecutor in September, continues to review the case. According to unofficial results, Nessel leads DePerno by 300,000 votes - about 7 points. Hes helped a Portage high school student rejoin the tennis team after she had been kicked off following an illegal search of her car that revealed remnants of marijuana, DePerno said. "As attorney general, you're the state's chief law enforcement officer. The special prosecutor, D.J. All (DePerno) was interested in was generating fees for himself and protecting his way to collect it, Buhl said. Baker didn't respond to a request for comment. As recently as last month, he criticized the GOP-led Legislature for failing to. 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. Longtime GOP mega-donor Ron Weiser, a wealthy Ann Arbor businessman, opted against seeking another term as party chairman. They dont make guys like him anymore. Matthew DePerno was born in Warren and raised in Troy, Michigan. Him and I had discussions as to whether I should run, DePerno said. 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. 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. While the Kries Enderle law firm and DePerno both declined to discuss his contentious departure given their confidential settlement agreement, DePerno downplayed the acrimonious split in general terms. Not authorized by any candidate. DePerno denied many of the accusations but eventually negotiated a settlement with the Moffits, whose attorney declined to discuss terms of the deal. 2 min read. "And yet, here I am running for attorney general to restore integrity, justice and morality in Michigan.. Matthew DePerno: What to know about Michigan GOP attorney general One of DePerno's Republican convention opponents in the spring, Leonard, called on DePerno to detail what happened with the money in March. Submit. Thank goodness that most of my cases were nothing like this one.. DePerno received a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan, a J.D. Aug. 15:Report: Trump allies sought election data in Antrim, Wayne countiesApril 23:Michigan GOP endorses Trump favorites DePerno, Karamo at conventionApril 21:DePerno loses another bid for Antrim County audit as court dismisses appealApril 12:Trump favorite Matt DePerno back in court, seeks another Antrim County audit. See also: Michigan Attorney General election, 2022 DePerno has never been publicly disciplined by the state, according to records from the Attorney Discipline Board. In October 2019, Connors dismissed the case against The News "with prejudice" and ordered DePerno and Courser to pay The News $79,701 as a sanction, according to Washtenaw County court records.
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