LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – State investigators looking into alleged financial crimes of Traci Kornak, an ally of Michigan Attorney Dana Nessel, were told whistle blowers could lose their job by the AG’s office and that Kornak had “powerful political friends.” That was the testimony of a Republican attorney who reported to a House Oversight Committee this week.

Kornak is accused of taking financial advantage of Rose Burd, an elderly woman who was mentally challenged, while Kornak was the court-appointed conservator. Testimony at Tuesday’s hearing said that an accounting firm found as much as $419,640 in questionable charges by Kornak.

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Kathryn Edwards, an attorney representing the House Republicans, laid out what an investigation discovered when the state’s Adult Protection Services (APS) looked into Kornak, who was the treasurer for the state Democratic Party and served on Nessel’s transition team.

“The special assistant Attorney General explained to APS that Traci Kornak had powerful political friends and that anyone who blew the whistle on Traci Kornak would be subject to retaliation up to the point of losing their job,” Edwards told the committee. “That’s right, the Attorney General’s office told Adult Protection Services that it should not help a vulnerable adult despite the results of a two-year investigation and the conclusion that the vulnerable adult was a victim of financial exploitation.”

The hearing also published the investigator’s notes that contained the statements Edwards read to the committee.

Nessel’s office didn’t respond to an email seeking comment. Efforts to reach Kornak at an office phone number were not successful.