LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel was accused during a legislative hearing of an ethical breach when she personally contacted Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and asked her to review a criminal recommendation Benson’s office made in a case that involved Nessel’s spouse, Alanna Maguire.

That’s according to documents released and discussed during a Michigan House Oversight committee hearing on Tuesday.

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The case involved a non-profit group Bipartisan Solutions that was accused of violating campaign finance laws when it raised money for a ballot initiative that was co-chaired by Maguire, Nessel’s spouse. Maguire worked for Fair & Equal Michigan.

The House oversight committee meeting highlighted an email that gave that appearance that Nessel had violated her office’s self-imposed “conflict wall” to ensure there was no conflict of interest due to Nessel’s spouse involvement in the case. That email was from Danielle Hagaman-Clark of the AG’s office to Mike Brady, the Secretary of State’s chief legal director. In that email, Hagaman-Clark was discussing the Bipartisan Solutions’ case.

 

“I was informed the AG reached out directly to the Secretary and the Secretary agreed to take this matter back for further review,” Hagaman-Clark said.

Brady responded, “I will let the Secretary know about our legal analysis that we lack any legal authority under the MCFA [Michigan Campaign Finance Act] to ‘take it back’ or ‘restart’ that effort.”

Nessel was not present at the hearing. Her office didn’t respond to emails seeking comment. The House oversight committee voted 10-6 to find Nessel in contempt for not cooperating with its investigation.

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“What’s the mindset you have to have to believe that you can do that, and make that call, and believe that it’s OK?” State Rep. Jay DeBoyer, (R-Clay Township), asked. “I tell you the stunner is that the Secretary agreed to take it back. That’s a tremendous problem.”

Rep. Josh Shriver, (R-Oxford) said Nessel’s conduct rose to “impeachable conduct.”