The bench warrant for DePerno's arrest was not resolved, according to available court records, and remained in effect for more than 14 months. 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. Trump had actually won the county by 3,788 votes, 61%-37%, a 7,048-vote swing from the unofficial results. Will you please support our nonprofit newsroom? He picked the fight and then billed them $130,000. "And yet, here I am running for attorney general to restore integrity, justice and morality in Michigan.. Other issues her campaign highlights includes consumer protection, protection for seniors, environmental protection, health care access, and robocall reductions. Taxation 1994-95 University of Detroit Mercy School of Law I dont have a bad word to say about him, and other than people he grew up with and has been around his whole life, I probably got to know him better than anybody since the November election, Bailey said. The initial tallies in the Republican stronghold had Democrat Joe Biden winning by 3,260 votes with 62% of the overall total to Trump's 36%. 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. Him and I had discussions as to whether I should run, DePerno said. Kallman declined to detail the issues. He fights the fight for the little guy, and for the good guy. Matt DePerno - Trump's pick - wins Republican endorsement for Michigan Chaos And Conspiracies: 12 Hours At A GOP Convention That Handed Trump 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. "Anyone who does not treat systemic election corruption commensurate with the state and national threat it is, should be disqualified from any position in party leadership," Karamo's plan said. DePerno also has fiercely loyal supporters who defend his legal work, including clients, who contend hed make a strong attorney general. Michigan attorney general says FBI confirmed she was target of plot to 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. Some Michigan Republicans say they are . ", Eric Castiglia, chairman of the Republican Party of Macomb County, said DePerno is gaining steam politically because of his focus on the "rule of law.". DePerno, who never held elected office, rode Trumps endorsement to win the Republican Party nomination over two candidates who have served in the Legislature. Dana Nessel was joined alongside Ingham County Election Clerk Barb Byrum and state Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) for a live stream during the former president's rally in Macomb County Saturday night. The Oak Park educator and conservative activist will take the reins months after the Michigan GOP in November lost long-held majorities in the House and Senate and lost races seeking to oust the incumbent Democratic governor, secretary of state and attorney general. 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. Vote DePerno. DePerno wins GOP attorney general race after runoff; Karamo wins SOS Matt DePerno, a Republican candidate for Michigan attorney general, has appeared at Capitol rallies calling for a forensic audit of the 2020 presidential election. Paid for with regulated funds by End Citizens United Non-Federal MI. Two attorneys quit, saying they could not represent DePerno without violating the canons of ethics. So DePerno represented himself, an unorthodox move the liability insurer asked a court to stop before also agreeing to a settlement with DePerno. Before DePerno launched Michigan AG bid, he cleared up arrest warrant (Bridge photo by Jonathan Oosting). 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. Before the 2020 campaign, DePerno was most known for representing Courser, a Lapeer area Republican who resigned from the state House after he attempted to cover up an extramarital affair with a fellow lawmaker, and for challenging election results in northern Michigan's Antrim County. He has been defending America's constitutional civil liberties for over 25 years. 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. In a Michigan Court of Appeals filing, DePerno accused lawyers for The News of telling him before the Feb. 6, 2020, hearing that it had been adjourned. The problematic initial numbers were caused by human errors: Election workers' failure to update equipment after additions to the ballot. Matthew Wilk of Northville said Republicans cant rely on the state party to do things the state GOP used to do. 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. "They don't make guys like him anymore. Matthew DePerno is an attorney who serves clients worldwide from his office in Kalamazoo Michigan, USA. Matthew DePerno for Michigan (@deperno4mi) / Twitter I've taken on cases that people even in the media have disagreed with.. DePerno Law Office, PLLC - Matthew DePerno Law Office 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. In another suit, the Michigan Court of Appeals dismissed a DePerno request to disqualify a judge from a lawsuit involving lakefront property easement, and highlighted an unusual comparisonDePerno had made in a 2015 court hearing. 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.. DePerno denied many of the accusations but eventually negotiated a settlement with the Moffits, whose attorney declined to discuss terms of the deal. Matthew DePerno for Attorney General Whitmer won her first term by 9 points over Republican Bill Schuette in 2018. And the GOP-controlled Michigan Senate Oversight Committee accused DePerno of spreading "misleading information and illogical conclusions.". They've suggested fraud and hacking. Trump endorses Matt DePerno in race for Michigan Republican Party chair But DePernos critics say GOP delegates should take a closer look at his legal career, which reveals a series of disputes with colleagues, judges and clients. Dernis labeled DePerno a person of integrity. See also: Michigan Attorney General election, 2022 "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. DePerno and Karamo were viewed as the favorites because they have been working with delegates for more than a year as it was the delegates who nominated them for attorney general and secretary of state last year. 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper, DePerno said of the last presidential election. Election Integrity Based. LaBrant labeled DePerno a "fool" with a "checkered past.". 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. 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. "So a police officer will be able to see on their laptop that theres a bench warrant for this person.. Matthew has published 21 legal reports based on his findings from the forensic audit. Ultimately, I collected the fees that were due to me, DePerno told Bridge. 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. She previously worked as an assistant prosecutor in the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. Anthony DePerno, 21, is majoring in Supply Chain Management at MSU and is expected to graduate this Spring, 2022. 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 ofmaking false claimsfor personal profit, echoing allegations that marred DePernos legal career nearly two decades earlier. It just screams out: This is why people hate lawyers. We dont need this in our profession.. Connors previously ordered DePerno and Courser to pay a sanction of $79,701. He alleged oppression of a minority shareholder and said his termination caused "extreme mental anguish, emotional distress, shock and humiliation.". Exclusive: Trump-backed Michigan attorney general candidate - Reuters DePerno had represented an older couple Ronald and Cathleen Moffit whose home burned down in 2011. Some Republicans voiced frustration and uncertainty about the partys direction Saturday. After practicing law for a decade as a law firm partner, Matt opened the doors of his own practice, DePerno Law, PLLC, in 2005, where he has since been ardently defending Americans constitutional rights. Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. "He will never give up, and thats why they absolutely cannot stand him.". "I think it's extremely problematic," Truscott told Bridge Michigan. ", While DePerno said he was conceding the race, he also said he would "refuse to concede that Michigan is a blue state. "I have been told to stop talking about America first values. DePerno is one of nine people who were investigated by Nessel's office for an alleged Michigan vote tabulator tampering scheme. Forton said his decision was meant to ensure that a "grassroots-type" hopeful had a chance to win. Thus began another unexpected legal fight, as the Moffits hired a new attorney to stop the foreclosure sale and sue DePerno for legal malpractice, alleging he fought their insurer without their consent, overbilled and padded billings, including a $13,000 charge to reassemble their case file after DePerno parted ways with his law firm at the time, Veritas Group. He also has a big fan inside the Michigan Republican Party: co-chair Meshawn Maddock, who endorsed him earlier this month, an unusual move considering the party traditionally is expected to stay out of contested convention races. Develop A Candidate Recruitment Program through the Delegates, Play Offense Not Defense with the Democrats. He argued Michigan needed "the guidance of a fighter. And I continuously showed that throughout my career. Kristina Karamo (Secretary of State) - $796,022. And I think were peaking.". 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper, who resigned from the state House after he attempted to cover up an extramarital affair with a fellow lawmaker, told the Lansing publication Gongwer News Service that he had spoken with a sheriff. 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. Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Timothy Connors signed a warrant in February 2020 for DePerno's arrest after he failed to appear for a creditor's exam in an unsuccessful defamation case brought by his client, former state Rep. Todd Courser, against The Detroit News. I've always proven that I don't back down from anyone, he said. 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 . I think the party recreates itself locally. Thousands of Michigan Republican Party delegates participate in the convention as they considered who should be their new leader after suffering historic losses in the November 2022 election. Submit. "The sanction award far exceeds the petitioners' ability to pay," Baker wrote in a filing on Jan. 9, 2020. Matthew S. DePerno, Esq. (@mdeperno) / Twitter Last Name. 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. If you care about Michigan, please support our work. 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. DePerno, speaking with Bridge, called the assault allegation an "outrageous" attempt by the Moffits to avoid paying their legal bills. 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. 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 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. During her remarks on Saturday, Karamo said she refused to concede her 615,000-vote loss to Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson because the election was a "fraudulent process." The probe is completely ridiculous and part of the reason DePerno decided to run for attorney general, he told Bridge, likening it "totalitarianism" since Nessel's office battled him as opposing counsel in the Antrim County case. But Greene's organization changed course and endorsed DePerno earlier this month. DePerno is considered a frontrunner for the Michigan Republican Partys nomination for attorney general, along with former state House Speaker Tom Leonard, the GOP nominee in 2018. Matt DePerno concedes Michigan AG race to Dana Nessel DePerno is best known for defending former state Rep. Todd Courser after a2015 sex scandalcover up and challengingAntrim County election resultsin a failed lawsuit that spawned ongoing conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. For months, Matthew has tried to take his findings to the Michigan Legislature, asking for their support in demanding a Statewide full forensic audit, to no avail. Experts say there is no credible evidence of fraud in Antrim County, and a hand recount of paper ballots later confirmed the official results showing Trump won the area with 61 percent of the vote, just shy of his 62 percent showing in 2016. 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. Taxation 1994-95 University of Detroit Mercy School of Law But he told Bridge he cannot discuss details because of a confidential settlement. 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. 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. 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. Matthew DePerno: Trump-backed GOP candidate for Michigan AG under - CNN 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 was a "trick," DePerno told the state Court of Appeals on Feb. 26, 2020. He has claimed he wants to prosecute Nessel as well as fellow Democratic incumbents Gov. Were going to be a political machine that strikes fear in the heart of Democrats," Karamo told delegates. The sides eventually settled out of court in 2008. The sides eventually settled out of court in 2008. 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. Democratic President Joe Biden beat Trump by 154,188 votes in Michigan. Contact - DePerno Law Office, PLLC Confused, concerned and ultimately outraged that DePerno was charging them nearly $140,000 after losing them $13,000, Ronald Moffit said he confronted DePerno over the legal bill, which led to what the couples attorney would later call battery and assault by DePerno. The Michigan Advance was one of the outlets denied media credentials to cover . But the litigation created four volumes of records at the Kalamazoo County clerk's office. Whitmer" for her nursing home policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, called for increased transparency standards for state government and voiced opposition to abortion. If you cant abide by the laws and the rules, how do you have the moral authority to prosecute criminals?. DePerno is well-known and well-liked by many clients, but his legal career has been marked by some discord. DePerno's work with Courser led to a years-long defamation suit against The News and staff member Chad Livengood, who broke the story of Courser's affair and the lawmaker's scheme to hide it. ", In an Oct. 1 interview, DePerno said if he's elected, he'll work to lower Michigan's crime rate and combat sex trafficking. We are honored to have Kari's support in this race, check out the full endorsement! Trump has thrown significant political weight behind DePerno, endorsing him, speaking on his behalf at aMar-A-Lago fundraiserand announcing plans to stump for him and other endorsed candidates at aMichigan rally on April 2. His experience and record of success has benefited individuals, small business, and multi-national corporations. 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Attorney general candidate Matthew DePerno is a favorite of former President Donald Trump and a leading proponent of efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election in Michigan. He will have a staff of more than 500 people, and his . His experience and record of success has benefited individuals, small business, and multi-national corporations. 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. And he's 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.". (Bridge photo by Jonathan Oosting). 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. 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 dont know of any judges that have ever expressed a like for rapists.. We report because the news impacts all of us. Ironically, DePerno, who was a fierce opponent of the 2020 election results and consistently denied their outcome, conceded the race for attorney general prior to it being called by media outlets. "And I have had people approach me across the state, and they've asked me, 'Where did that money go?'". ", Karamo dismissed concerns about declining donations to the state party, saying thats going to change right away.. Other Republican activists also lined up behind DePerno, citing his aggressive approach. CONTACT. DePerno faces incumbent Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel on Nov. 8. Courser and DePerno unsuccessfully argued audio recordings that prompted Livengood's reporting in 2015 had been improperly edited. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Login. I think were going to focus on local issues, Wilk said. 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 March 12, 2020, hearing was eventually canceled, according to court records. Leave us a message. The ProAssurance Casualty Company alleged DePerno made unreasonable demands of attorneys they had hired to represent him in the Moffits malpractice suit. Trump had also endorsed DePerno in that . But six days after the Moffits refused to pay his fees, DePerno took action to try and collect: He began foreclosure proceedings to sell the Moffits new home and the land where their old home had burned down, according to court filings. I've taken on tough cases. He has a wife and three children. DePerno had represented an older couple Ronald and Cathleen Moffit whose home burned down in 2011. All rights reserved. DePerno had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump. The nomination wont be official until a separate August convention, but the early endorsement will allow a candidate to raise funds and campaign as the presumed nominee. 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. DePerno lost to Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel by 9 percentage points in November. "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.". 2023 Bridge Michigan. Trump's backing helped DePerno win a three-way race at an April convention for the party's attorney general nomination. The grievance commission can also privately admonish an attorney or place them on contractual probation, but those lighter punishments are not made public. "Were going to win.. DePerno also transferred "his interest in the marital home" to his wife's trust for $1, according to the lawyers for The News. But six days after the Moffits refused to pay his fees, DePerno took action to try and collect: He began foreclosure proceedings to sell the Moffits new home and the land where their old home had burned down, according to court filings. DePerno later sued the law firm, claiming breach of contract and oppression of a minority shareholder. More:Before Matt DePerno launched a bid for attorney general, he cleared up an arrest warrant. "The Republican Party is now pretty well cemented as the party of election denying, conspiracy theories, tin hats and supporting Capitol riots," Miller said. Robert Baker, DePerno's lawyer for a portion of the case, told the court at one point that DePerno had "virtually no assets," according to a court transcript. In May 2021, a local judge blocked DePerno's push for an "independent and nonpartisan forensic audit" in Antrim County. I'll continue to write good people in on my election ballots. Samantha DePerno, 19, began her sophomore year at MSU this past Fall, 2021. Fill in the form below and we'll be in touch. The warrant was recalled when DePerno and The News reached a $20,000 settlement in May 2021. Matthew DePerno - Ballotpedia A judge rejected the litigation, saying her claims were "unsubstantiated" or misinterpreted Michigan election law. Instead, DePerno filed a counter-claim against the insurance company without the knowledge or consent of his clients, which prompted the insurer to stop its initial payment. 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. In order to win the chair position, a candidate had to receive more than 50% support. Email. Trump-backed GOP pick for Michigan AG has been a vocal supporter of Lansing Republican Matt DePerno's embrace of former President Donald Trump's unproven election fraud claims moved the Kalamazoo trial lawyer from political obscurity to the front lines. The sheriff's office this week didn't provide a response to questions about the warrant. 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.. Matthew DePerno: What to know about Michigan GOP attorney general