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. We are honored to have Kari's support in this race, check out the full endorsement! As DePerno worked on the 2020 election, his law office's website linked to a fundraising page that brought in nearly $400,000. They've raised concerns about Dominion Voting Systems, the equipment used in Antrim County. In his original complaint, DePerno alleged he was wrongfully fired from his $110,000 job because he had raised questions about the financial operations of the firm. 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. George Dernis, who DePerno has represented in a nearly eight-year legal battle over foreclosure of Michigan properties he'd used as collateral to purchase a grocery store, said DePerno helped guide his family through "hell and back. "I'll pass. DePerno also has fiercely loyal supporters who defend his legal work, including clients, who contend hed make a strong attorney general. 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. Thanks for submitting! ", I have been told by our elected officials to stop talking about this issue," DePerno said of the last presidential election, which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden in Michigan by 3 percentage points or 154,000 votes. A court filing showed the bench warrant was stamped "canceled" on May 6, 2021. "And yet, here I am running for attorney general to restore integrity, justice and morality in Michigan.. 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. "The creditor's exam was scheduled for today," Connors said in court on Feb. 7, 2020, according to a transcript. The settlement was complicated by another lawsuit from DePernos professional liability insurer, who sued him in an attempt to drop him and cancel his policy. She becomes the first Black person to lead the Michigan GOP. The numbers became jumbled during the communication of the unofficial results to the county's election management system. But he told Bridge he cannot discuss details because of a confidential settlement. 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. He 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 Michigan, DePerno is one of nine people who were investigated by Nessel's office for an. The warrant was in place until the sanction was resolved in May 2021 because of a $20,000 settlement with The News. Firm: Michigan AG hopeful Matt DePerno fired over padded, false billings, Campaign donors love a winner, dump Michigan GOP for Democrats after election, Turns out, young voters didnt sway 22 election in Michigan, records show, Basically broke, Michigan GOP to charge delegates to attend convention, Share the article you just read on Twitter, Share the article you just read on Facebook, Share the article you just read via email, Michigan stopped Ohio toxic waste last week, but we import waste every day, Democrats push Michigan gun reforms. People need to see a competent party, Karamo said. Both of the final two candidates, Karamo and DePerno, had denied the results of the 2020 election: Trump's loss. It takes working together to restore this great state. 500 Terry Francois St. SF, CA 94158. info@mysite.com 123-456-7890. DePerno has called Nessel's allegations garbage and said she's using the investigatory powers of her office for political purposes. At issue was DePernos effort to remove Cass County Judge Michael Dodge from the case, arguing the judge could not be impartial because he owned property on a separate lake. Were going to be a political machine that strikes fear in the heart of Democrats," Karamo told delegates. But Democrats have slammed his continued unproven claims about fraud in the 2020 election. Matthew DePerno is an attorney who serves clients worldwide from his office in Kalamazoo Michigan, USA. One of DePerno's Republican convention opponents in the spring, Leonard, called on DePerno to detail what happened with the money in March. But court records show law firm colleagues confronted DePerno in October 2005 and presented him with evidence detailed in a confidential memo included in public filings, along with 190 pages of internal billing documents. The problematic initial numbers were caused by human errors: Election workers' failure to update equipment after additions to the ballot. You can also contact us by using this form: First Name. Former state Rep. Aaron Miller, a Republican from Sturgis, said Karamo's victory indicated some Michigan Republicans want to keep losing elections. DePerno received a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan, a J.D. 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. It just screams out: This is why people hate lawyers. We dont need this in our profession.. Contact - DePerno Law Office, PLLC I think were going to focus on local issues, Wilk said. "Some attorneys are more challenging than others," Dodge said in an email. 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. DePerno's campaign didn't respond. Michigan Officials Push to Investigate Matthew DePerno in 2020 Election Putman and Glaser each got 12% on the first ballot. On Dec. 18, Karamo released a vision for the party that included converting "'GOP-phobic youth' by transitioning schools from indoctrination to education," giving "precinct delegates control over the party" and holding Republican elected officials "accountable to using the Constitution as their measure for governing.". 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. Before the November election, she unsuccessfully sued and asked a judge to require residents of Detroit, Michigan's largest city, to vote in person or obtain their ballots in person at the clerk's office. Subject. Miller called it a sad day for the GOP. He has claimed he wants to prosecute Nessel as well as fellow Democratic incumbents Gov. 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. Vote DePerno. 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. She was speaking out against "fake issues" that she said were dividing people. And when DePerno asked her to enter the room to notarize mortgage documents, the secretary said it was clear Cathy Moffit had been crying and did not want to sign the papers. Matt DePerno, a Republican candidate for Michigan attorney general, has appeared at Capitol rallies calling for a "forensic audit" of the 2020 presidential election. 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. And in a new sign of former President Donald Trump's diminishing influence, the women beat the Trump-endorsed ticket of Matt DePerno and Garrett Soldano to replace MAGA loyalist Meshawn Maddock and establishment fundraiser Ron Weiser. Trump-backed GOP pick for Michigan AG has been a vocal supporter of DePerno lost the 2022 attorney general election to incumbent Attorney General Dana Nessel by nearly nine points. He also represented former state Rep. Todd Courser in a sex scandal cover-up case, which ended with Courser. Gaining unauthorized access to voting machines is a felony in Michigan. Matthew has been attacked many times from elected officials, including current Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, but he has not backed down. "That would be a privileged question.". Could that Judge then rule on rape cases, or would that create a bias for the Judge? 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. Gretchen Whitmer in public polling and in the last election. Michigan Republican convention to decide next party leader DePerno faces incumbent Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel on Nov. 8. 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. Because of the conflict of interest of investigating him, Nessel sought the appointment of a special prosecutor to decide if charges are warranted. 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 Republican Party is now pretty well cemented as the party of election denying, conspiracy theories, tin hats and supporting Capitol riots," Miller said. Democratic Gov. Before DePerno launched Michigan AG bid, he cleared up arrest warrant Karamo beats DePerno in Michigan GOP chair race, moving the party "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. DePerno is one of nine people who were investigated by Nessel's office for an alleged Michigan vote tabulator tampering scheme. Were looking forward to a party thats successful," Karamo said. The situation also became a focus of attacks this year against DePerno. 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. Michigan attorney general says FBI confirmed she was target of plot to 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. Whitmer" for her nursing home policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, called for increased transparency standards for state government and voiced opposition to abortion. Maddock and Weiser had formed a tenuous alliance leading Michigan Republicans for the last two years. DePerno is willing to take on "the status quo of corruption," Carra said. In at least one instance, DePerno admitted that he falsified billing to a clients account, the law firms attorney said in a court filing. Those allegations, contained in never-before-reported documents out of Kalamazoo County Circuit Court, were only made public because DePerno sued the firm in an attempt to cash out his shares and transfer the lease on a company vehicle that was repossessed after his firing. Asked about his candidate's changing financial status, Shepard said DePerno's law firm attracted a lot of new business during the period after early 2020 partly because of restrictions Gov. "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.". The special prosecutor, D.J. Matt DePerno, an attorney general candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump, sued the firm over his firing and denied the allegations in court. Him and I had discussions as to whether I should run, DePerno said. "I don't 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. DePerno had represented an older couple Ronald and Cathleen Moffit whose home burned down in 2011. 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. They dont make guys like him anymore. 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. ", In an Oct. 1 interview, DePerno said if he's elected, he'll work to lower Michigan's crime rate and combat sex trafficking. He alleged oppression of a minority shareholder and said his termination caused "extreme mental anguish, emotional distress, shock and humiliation.". DePerno beat Tom Leonard in the second round of voting with 54% of . State Rep. Ryan Berman is also running. $400,000 for an Election Fraud Defense Fund in 2020, and critics have urged him to disclose what he did with that money. 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. DePerno who has pushed former President Donald Trump's false claims of widespread election fraud has slammed the probe, which is now led by a special prosecutor. 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. Ive taken on cases that people even in the media have disagreed with.. LANSING Former President Donald Trump endorsed Kalamazoo attorney Matt DePerno on Friday in the race for chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. He fights the fight for the little guy, and for the good guy. Feb 10 Don't miss our Pre-Convention Rally with President Donald Trump THIS MONDAY! ", We're not just a news organization, we're also your neighbors. DePerno, 53, is a Portage-based attorney who primarily works on tax cases and worked primarily in Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties. DePerno is best known for defending former state Rep. Todd Courser after a 2015 sex scandal cover up and challenging Antrim County election results in a failed lawsuit that spawned ongoing conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. "I can't answer that question," the lawyer said. But he told Bridge he cannot discuss details because of a confidential settlement. DePerno denied many of the accusations but eventually negotiated a settlement with the Moffits, whose attorney declined to discuss terms of the deal. He has a wife and three children. After leaving that role, she opened her own law firm. She said in her victory speech she plans to move the state forward over the next four years. On Saturday morning, Macomb County Republican Chairman Mark Forton dropped out of the state chair race, leaving nine remaining candidates. "And I have had people approach me across the state, and they've asked me, 'Where did that money go?'". 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper, DePerno said of the last presidential election. DePerno, who had worked with the Moffits on tax issues in the past, allegedly convinced the couple he could negotiate with the IRS. DePerno had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump. DePerno wins GOP attorney general race after runoff; Karamo wins SOS Consumers Energy, Manchester Market partner for free community breakfast, Career partnerships expand within Manchester school district, Dance Masters of Michigan attend solo title event competition, Village establishes change of use ordinance, Environmental incentives to conservation easements: Residents learn about land management & preservation, reflecting the community of Manchester since 2013. Kristina Karamo elected chair of Michigan Republican Party On Feb. 6, 2020, Connors signed a bench warrant for DePerno's arrest and for him to be brought before the court "immediately" for failure to appear, according to a document. It just screams out: This is why people hate lawyers. We dont need this in our profession.. Matt and Laura have three wonderful children who are all current or former students at Michigan State University (MSU). 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. 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.