LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Traci Kornak, an ally of Attorney General Dana Nessel, is alleged to have intercepted an impaired elderly woman’s email, put fake Christmas cards up make others believe she was still in contact with family and forced the woman to live in complete darkness at times, according to testimony from the Michigan House Oversight Committee hearing.

Kornak is also alleged to have removed light bulbs from lamps in the independent living facility the impaired woman was living in. She also put duct tape over light switches and told staff not to touch it while overseeing the care of Rose Burd. Kornak was charged in January with embezzlement while she was the conservator for Burd by the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office. Kornak was the treasurer for the Michigan Democratic Party and served on Nessel’s transition team.

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The investigator’s notes were compiled via caregivers helping Burd. Those caretakers described incidents where Kornak set a time-control on Burd’s TV, allowing her to watch it for only two hours a day.

Kornak is alleged to also have taken away Burd’s cell phone and told the caretakers if Burd asked about her phone, to tell her it wasn’t important.

The investigation alleged that Kornak didn’t inform Burd that three of her family members had died.

One of the caregivers said Burd enjoyed having a bright light on all the time. It was alleged that Kornak removed the light bulbs from the apartment, saying they were fluorescent and agitating Burd. The light switches had duct tape placed on them so they could not be turned on. Kornak left instructions for the caretakers not to touch anything.

Kornak also refused to allow Burd to have a night light left on in her room despite Burd’s pleading.

One caretaker said the apartment was pitch black and when she left, she had difficulty getting out without any light

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The conduct raised concerns by the state of Michigan investigator with Adult Protection Services who was investigating complaints lodged by Burd against Kornak.

Kornak “appears to have started harassing Ms. Burd by controlling all aspects of what she can and cannot do,” the investigator’s notes read.

Burd died in April 2025.