"So a police officer will be able to see on their laptop that theres a bench warrant for this person.. You can also contact us by using this form: First Name. He will have a staff of more than 500 people, and his . 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. The people of MIchigan are tired of the rising crime, threats to parental rights and an ongoing lack of trust in government. Trump has thrown significant political weight behind DePerno, endorsing him, speaking on his behalf at a Mar-A-Lago fundraiser and announcing plans to stump for him and other endorsed candidates at a Michigan rally on April 2. DePerno faces incumbent Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel on Nov. 8. As a tax attorney who worked primarily in Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties, his legal career has been marked by discord. Some Michigan Republicans say they are . 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. If you cant abide by the laws and the rules, how do you have the moral authority to prosecute criminals?. The numbers became jumbled during the communication of the unofficial results to the county's election management system. Feb 10 Don't miss our Pre-Convention Rally with President Donald Trump THIS MONDAY! And hes not afraid of what has turned into, unfortunately, a convoluted judicial system., Bill Bailey, a real estate broker who DePerno is representing in the ongoing Antrim County election appeal, called him one of the most honest, hardworking souls I truthfully have ever met.. 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. Putman and Glaser each got 12% on the first ballot. The secret to a good campaign is to peak at the right time," Greenlee said. And in early 2022, state Rep. Ryan Berman of Commerce Township, who previously ran for attorney general as a Republican against DePerno, said DePerno's "skeletons have skeletons. "The tremendous GOP grassroots enthusiasm for DePerno combined with Nessel trying to shut down Line 5 and talking about a drag queen in every classroom gives DePerno the best chance to win of any Republican on the statewide ticket," said Yob, who previously advised the lawyer's campaign. But he told Bridge he cannot discuss details because of a confidential settlement. "Matthew DePerno showed up the day after the election, using our president's name, taking nearly $400,000 from every one of you," Leonard said during a debate in Oakland County. Regardless, voters should trust him to run the states largest and most powerful law firm the attorney generals office because he is a fighter, DePerno said. 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. But he never did, the Moffits attorney alleged in the malpractice suit. That happens all the time, and then things are resolved.. 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. The two have been married for over 26 years and raised three children together. 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. A year later, with the fire reimbursement case seemingly resolved, DePerno presented the Moffits with a $109,879 check from their insurer $13,421 less than the original payment offered three years prior and a $137,779.38 bill for his legal services, according to the malpractice lawsuit. 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 DePerno's characterization of dismissal "the farthest thing from the truth.. 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. We are honored to have Kari's support in this race, check out the full endorsement! Trump's campaign lawyer, Christina Bobb, worked with DePerno on the convention floor. "I'll pass. John Engler. In a recent letter to Michigan GOP precinct delegates, Trump called DePerno an incredible attorney who led the charge in calling out obvious voter fraud by suing over the election in Antrim County, where an error by the Republican clerk skewed initial results in favor of Democrat Joe Biden but was quickly corrected. DePerno had represented an older couple Ronald and Cathleen Moffit whose home burned down in 2011. 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. Some Republicans voiced frustration and uncertainty about the partys direction Saturday. Asked if he has concerns about how DePerno would handle a future election that's challenged, Greene said yes, but he added there will be "checks and balances," including from the Legislature. However, Shepard said DePerno wants to fix "the outdated and confusing" law, which dates to the 1840s. DePerno, 53, is a Portage-based attorney who primarily works on tax cases and worked primarily in Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties. Dernis labeled DePerno a person of integrity. 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. "They don't make guys like him anymore. The special prosecutor, D.J. I'll continue to write good people in on my election ballots. 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 problematic initial numbers were caused by human errors: Election workers' failure to update equipment after additions to the ballot. DePerno has also said he supports and would enforce the states 1931 ban on abortion. In a related case, involving a malpractice claim against DePerno, he argued the Kreis Enderle firm invented a claim of misconduct to deny him state unemployment benefits. As attorney general, youre the states chief law enforcement officer. 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. He has claimed he wants to prosecute Nessel as well as fellow Democratic incumbents Gov. A Republican running to be Michigans top law enforcement official was fired from a law firm in 2005 after colleagues alleged he padded client billings for personal and professional benefit, according tocourt recordsreviewed by Bridge Michigan. He alleged oppression of a minority shareholder and said his termination caused "extreme mental anguish, emotional distress, shock and humiliation.". 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. from New York University School of Law. The News eventually sued Laura DePerno in Kalamazoo County court, and Matt DePerno challenged the Washtenaw County court's ruling in the state Court of Appeals. Nessel campaign spokeswoman Sarah Stevenson said the incumbent would provide hers if DePerno provided his. 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. Democratic President Joe Biden beat Trump by 154,188 votes in Michigan. Matthew DePerno: What to know about Michigan GOP attorney general candidate. Other Republican activists also lined up behind DePerno, citing his aggressive approach. But he told Bridge he cannot discuss details because of a confidential settlement. Were going to be a political machine that strikes fear in the heart of Democrats," Karamo told delegates. Greene once tweeted that DePerno would be an "unmitigated disaster." 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. 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. 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. It just screams out: This is why people hate lawyers. We dont need this in our profession.. Login. A judge rejected the litigation, saying her claims were "unsubstantiated" or misinterpreted Michigan election law. Baker didn't respond to a request for comment. "He will never give up, and thats why they absolutely cannot stand him.". 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I will issue bench warrants.". "Mr. DePerno has received calls from the sheriff's deputy that's going to come and try to execute writs of execution, I guess, on his office furniture and supplies," Baker said during a Jan. 16, 2020, court hearing. In a statement, Tyson Shepard, DePerno's campaign manager, said the campaign is focused on issues affecting people across Michigan instead of "washed-out stories from years and years ago.". 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. The warrant was in place as DePerno led high-profile litigation in the weeks after the November 2020 presidential election to challenge the results in northern Michigan's Antrim County. 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. In November 2020, Antrim County resident, William Bailey, hired Matthew to represent him in his lawsuit against Antrim County and the Michigan Secretary of States office, to conduct his own audit of the November general election irregularities in Antrim County. 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. The situation also became a focus of attacks this year against DePerno. "That would be a privileged question.". Matt DePerno, an attorney general candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump, sued the firm over his firing and denied the allegations in court. "Someone had to step up and take charge of what was happening. Karamo, DePerno and Lansing political consultant Scott Greenlee were initially the top three vote-getters in what was a nine-person race at the start of the convention Saturday morning in downtown Lansing. 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. 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. 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. Michigans nonpartisan, nonprofit news source. Whitmer won her first term by 9 points over Republican Bill Schuette in 2018. Not too many people would have stuck by my family and myself like Matt has.". The convention lasted about 11 hours with delegates battling over how the votes at the event would be counted and last-minute jockeying among the 10 candidates for party chair. ", While DePerno said he was conceding the race, he also said he would "refuse to concede that Michigan is a blue state. Another factor in his decision to run: Trump, who in July encouraged him to enter the race. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement. DePerno wasn't 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. If you care about Michigan, please support our work. Forton said his decision was meant to ensure that a "grassroots-type" hopeful had a chance to win. Who's in, out of race? They dont make guys like him anymore. 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. DePerno took on "several cases regarding the unconstitutional nature of these lockdowns and mandates.". He went on to repeatedly appear in Antrim County court to challenge the November 2020 election results while the warrant was in place. 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. 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. From beginning to end, the problem is you.. DePerno has also represented George Dernis, an Illinois businessman who's been in a years-long legal battle involving property in Michigan. 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 alleged oppression of a minority shareholder and said his termination caused extreme mental anguish, emotional distress, shock and humiliation.. Ultimately, I collected the fees that were due to me, DePerno told Bridge. Thanks for submitting! Maddock and Weiser had formed a tenuous alliance leading Michigan Republicans for the last two years. 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. Democratic President Joe Biden beat Trump by 154,188 votes in Michigan. New York University School of Law Master of Laws (LL.M.) I've always proven that I don't back down from anyone, he said. Greenlee, who's worked in politics for more than three decades, appeared to be gaining some level of support on Saturday. Matt DePerno has earned the endorsement of the Michigan Republican Party to take on incumbent Democrat Dana Nessel in November. Whitmer" for her nursing home policies. Trump had actually won the county by 3,788 votes, 61%-37%, a 7,048-vote swing from the unofficial results. "Him and I had discussions as to whether I should run," DePerno said. 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.. Who's in, out of race? LaBrant labeled DePerno a "fool" with a "checkered past.". Nessel's office began its investigation in February, before DePerno was her opponent. DePerno and Courser couldn't pay the amount, they argued in court. The ProAssurance Casualty Company alleged DePerno made unreasonable demands of attorneys they had hired to represent him in the Moffits malpractice suit. I just think this guy is going to be looking for election fraud under rocks," LaBrant said. ", Matt DePerno's rapid rise in GOP politics mired in controversy, lawsuits, an Ann Arbor firefighter who challenged the city's COVID-19 vaccine policy, The numbers became jumbled during the communication of the unofficial results to the county's election management system, push for an "independent and nonpartisan forensic audit" in Antrim County, "misleading information and illogical conclusions. While the case was ultimately settled, what he saw in pre-trial hearings was abhorrent, Buhl told Bridge Michigan. "Weve watched the Attorney Generals office and some of the positions theyve taken, and theyve been more political than legal," Greene said of Nessel's office. Jimmy Greene, president of Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan, is among the state Republicans who have warmed to DePerno as the general election neared. Matthew has been fighting against tyranny in Michigan for many years, including protesting across the state against Whitmer and Nessel's unconstitutional mask mandates, school and business lockdowns, vaccine mandates, and critical race theory. "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.". I think hed be the best to try to unify everybody," Kallman said. Gretchen Whitmer imposed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. But Democrats have slammed his continued unproven claims about fraud in the 2020 election. In August 2022, Reuters reported that presumptive Republican nominee Matthew DePerno "led a team that gained unauthorized access to voting equipment while hunting for evidence to support former President Donald Trump's false election-fraud claims" following the 2020 election. But court records show judges have repeatedly sanctioned or complained about his courtroom conduct. 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. Elissa Slotkin announces bid to succeed Debbie Stabenow. Could that Judge then rule on rape cases, or would that create a bias for the Judge? Ive always proven that I dont back down from anyone, he said. See also: Michigan Attorney General election, 2022 He picked the fight and then billed them $130,000. And DePerno later sued their attorney unsuccessfully for defamation. While Nessel might be vulnerable, there remain questions two weeks before Election Day over whether DePerno was the right person to beat her and become the state's top law enforcement official. In recent weeks, DePerno has campaigned on strengthening parents' rights and showed up at a contentious Dearborn school board meeting over books in a school library with sexual or violent content to speak on the issue. They've suggested fraud and hacking. A year later, with the fire reimbursement case seemingly resolved, DePerno presented the Moffits with a $109,879 check from their insurer $13,421 less than the original payment offered three years prior and a $137,779.38 bill for his legal services, according to the malpractice lawsuit. Thank goodness that most of my cases were nothing like this one.. 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..