Michigan

Michigan Republicans may try to impeach Attorney General Dana Nessel

Published

4 months ago

December 22, 2025

Michigan Republicans may try to impeach Attorney General Dana Nessel

Lansing — Michigan House Republicans said they might try to impeach the state’s Democratic attorney general, Dana Nessel, in her eighth and final year in office, accusing her of inappropriately wading into two investigations involving her allies.

But Nessel’s supporters countered that the GOP lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee are engaging in political theater and are misinterpreting or inaccurately portraying emails they obtained through subpoenas.

At the center of the claims are internal firewalls that were set up within Nessel’s office to prevent conflicts of interest in ongoing investigations. An Attorney General’s office probe that was supposed to be walled off from Nessel focused on Traci Kornak, a lawyer who served in 2018 on Nessel’s attorney general transition team. The other probe that Republicans have examined focused on Bipartisan Solutions, a nonprofit organization that contributed $782,000 to Fair and Equal Michigan, a ballot proposal committee co-chaired by Nessel’s wife, Alanna Maguire.

House Republicans obtained emails that showed Kornak had contacted Nessel and asked to receive documents related to the investigation into her. The emails also suggested that Nessel had spoken with Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a fellow Democrat, about a campaign finance investigation into Bipartisan Solutions.

“There’s definitely, at minimum, a clear ethics violation by Attorney General Dana Nessel,” House Oversight Chairman Jay DeBoyer, R-Clay Township, declared Tuesday.

While there was a conflict wall in place for matters involving Fair and Equal Michigan, there was not one for Bipartisan Solutions, Nessel spokeswoman Kim Bush said. The Attorney General’s Office also provided The Detroit News with emails that showed an investigation into Kornak’s work as a conservator for an elderly woman in west Michigan had been closed on Sept. 26, 2022, two months before Nessel messaged about being contacted by Kornak.

“Attorney General Nessel wielded no influence over the Kornak investigation, and none of the committee’s testimony or exhibits demonstrated that she had,” Bush said.

The scrutiny of Nessel, the state’s top law enforcement official and a frequent critic of Republican President Donald Trump, has been led by the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee.

On Tuesday, the panel met for about three hours. Members heard a report on the documents they received from the Attorney General’s Office, approved a subpoena for additional information on the Kornak investigation and voted to recommend that the full House hold Nessel in contempt of the Legislature for allegedly not cooperating with past demands.

The new subpoena referenced the House’s “ability to impeach civil officers of the state of Michigan.”

“There’s only one place that possesses impeachment to start, and that’s the House of Representatives,” DeBoyer said after the hearing. “So I would say that it certainly would be on the table.”

Across the aisle, state Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou, D-East Lansing, said Republicans, who took control of the House in January, have been exercising their oversight powers for political purposes throughout the year. Last week’s actions toward Nessel were merely the latest example, she said.

“What’s going on is political theater and a kangaroo court,” Tsernoglou said.

“Do we need oversight? Absolutely,” she added. “Should we hold departments and department heads accountable? Yes, we should. I just don’t think that’s what’s happening in that committee.”

A potential appointment

For years, Republicans have questioned Nessel’s handling of the 2022 investigation into Kornak, a former Michigan Democratic Party treasurer. They’ve alleged that Kornak abused her power as a conservator who was supposed to help an elderly woman oversee her finances. But Kornak hasn’t been charged with such a crime.

In July, seven months after winning a majority in the House, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee voted to subpoena the records from Nessel’s office about its probe into Kornak.

The documents showed Nessel’s office opened an investigation into Kornak after reporting in The Detroit News on July 13, 2022, said a Grand Rapids nursing home was accusing Kornak of “inappropriate and unauthorized” invoicing.

“Notwithstanding … we’ve not received a complaint, the AG wants to know if this billing issue is something we would investigate,” Christina Grossi, former chief deputy attorney general, wrote in a July 13, 2022, email to other Attorney General staffers.

A conflict wall to exclude Nessel from discussing or accessing the Kornak case was set up on Sept. 6, 2022, according to emails obtained by the House Oversight Committee.

By Sept. 26, 2022, Lorri Bates, a supervisory special agent, requested that the probe into Kornak be closed.

Bush said the office was examining potential insurance fraud. The insurance company and the assisted living home involved in the situation didn’t want to pursue a case, Bush said.

“For an investigation regarding these alleged misdeeds, a complainant is required to participate in order to establish a crime occurred,” Bush said. “Having no viable path to further investigate the reported complaint, the file was closed.”

Despite it coming after the investigation’s closure, House Republicans have highlighted a Dec. 6, 2022, email in which Nessel discussed being contacted by Kornak.

The allegations against her “are apparently holding up a potential judicial appointment for her in Kent County,” Nessel wrote in the Dec. 6, 2022, message to two Attorney General employees. “She has requested the documents from our investigation.”

Nessel added, “Please advise what our process should be.”

During the three-hour Tuesday committee hearing, the House Oversight Committee heard a report on and asked questions about the Kornak matter for about two hours.

“This stinks,” DeBoyer said of the attorney general’s handling of the case.

Also, House Republicans said the Kent County Sheriff’s Office had separately investigated Kornak and recommended charges be brought by the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office, including embezzlement from a vulnerable adult.

Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said the case was still under investigation as of Friday.

In an email, Kornak said she wasn’t available to respond due to other obligations.

Bipartisan Solutions

The Secretary of State’s office determined in November 2022 that a nonprofit group named Bipartisan Solutions might have violated campaign finance requirements by flowing about $782,000 to Fair and Equal Michigan, a petition campaign that sought to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“Because of the coordination involved in your organization’s contributions to Fair and Equal Michigan and Bipartisan Solutions’ failure to file campaign statements, the department concludes there may be reason to believe that a potential violation of the act has occurred,” wrote Adam Fracassi of the Bureau of Elections in a letter to Bipartisan Solutions.

Then, the Secretary of State’s office referred the matter to Nessel’s office in April 2023.

Spurred by a separate matter, three years earlier, Nessel’s office had already set up an internal conflict wall regarding Fair and Equal Michigan, for which Nessel’s wife had briefly served as a co-chair.

In August 2023, the Attorney General’s Office asked the Secretary of State’s Office to reopen its inquiry into Bipartisan Solutions because the communications from the Secretary of State’s Office to Bipartisan Solutions had been sent to an incorrect address, according to emails obtained by House Republicans.

Michael Brady, chief legal director for the Secretary of State, responded by saying the communications were sent to the address the group had on file, and his office couldn’t reopen the investigation.

On Feb. 22, 2024, Danielle Hagaman-Clark, the Attorney General’s chief bureau chief, wrote to Brady, “I was informed the AG reached out directly to the Secretary and the Secretary agreed to take this matter back for further review.”

However, Benson spokeswoman Angela Benander said Friday that the Secretary of State’s Office never reopened the matter or took it back.

But House Republicans said the emails showed Nessel had violated the conflict wall regarding Fair and Equal Michigan.

“It’s quite brazen that the attorney general would contact the secretary of state and ask for these charges to be taken back,” Rep. Angela Rigas, R-Caledonia, said at one point Tuesday.

Nessel’s office said the conflict wall was set up for matters regarding Fair and Equal Michigan specifically, not for Bipartisan Solutions, a separate organization.

“The determination to refer the Bipartisan Solutions matter back to the Michigan Department of State was predicated on Michigan Department of Attorney General prosecutors’ determination that the Department of State had not satisfied statutorily prescribed processes for resolving complaints of conduct contrary to the Michigan Campaign Finance Act,” Bush said.

Nessel’s office didn’t participate in Tuesday’s three-hour hearing. At the end of it, Rep. Josh Schriver, R-Oxford, said he believes Nessel’s actions amounted to impeachable conduct.

The committee then approved a motion by Rep. Jason Woolford, R-Howell, to recommend the House symbolically hold Nessel in contempt of the Legislature. The House similarly voted to hold Benson, the Democratic secretary of state, in contempt in May.

The evidence showed the “unaccountable deep state operating behind the scenes,” Woolford said.

cmauger@detroitnews.com

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Michigan

Former Eastern Michigan football player stands outside Lions facility, asks for chance on the field

Published

6 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

Former Eastern Michigan football player stands outside Lions facility, asks for chance on the field

Former Eastern Michigan football player Freddie McGee III went viral on Monday, doing anything he possibly could to get the Lions’ attention for a tryout to make the team.

“I felt I just needed to take matters into my own hands,” said McGee.

The Canton, Michigan, native, and reigning Defensive Player of the Year in the Arena Football League, says he arrived at the Lions practice facility in Allen Park at 8:45 a.m. Monday to beg for a chance to walk onto the Lions, just like how he walked onto Eastern Michigan’s football team a few years ago.

“This morning was a little nerve-racking, you know, this is definitely stepping outside of my comfort zone,” said McGee. “Just wanted to come out here, maybe catch the right scout, the right personnel person pulling in here, maybe take a look at the sign I have and get to know my story a little bit, maybe give me a shot today.”

Former Eastern Michigan University football player Freddie McGee stood outside the Lions facility in Allen in hopes of an opportunity on the field.

CBS News Detroit

McGee’s brave pitch to the Lions is that he’s not just a dreamer; he dominated the AFL last year with 14 interceptions and 25 pass breakups. And his story is one that he says exemplifies everything Dan Campbell and the Lions should be looking for: grit.

“Other than just being a local kid and growing up loving the Lions, I feel like I’m the epitome of grit, like my career hasn’t been easy, I’ve overcome a lot of adversity,” said McGee.

CBS News Detroit reached out to the Lions organization for comment and is awaiting a response.

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Michigan Matters: Embracing Canada and Michigan Central Station children’s endowment update

Published

18 hours ago

April 13, 2026

Press Room

Michigan Matters: Embracing Canada and Michigan Central Station children’s endowment update

It’s a look at the critical relationship between Canada and Michigan/the U.S. as former Michigan Governor and U.S. Ambassador to Canada James Blanchard and Colin Bird, Canadian Consul General, appear on Michigan Matters to talk about the state of things.

Blanchard, who has been promoting bilateral trade between the U.S. and Canada for decades, talks about how important Detroit and Michigan are to all with their focus on manufacturing, autos and agriculture.

Jim Blanchard and Colin Bird

Tim Lawlis/CBS Detroit

Bird, who oversees Michigan and three other states on behalf of the Canadian government, talked about how businesses in Canada have been impacted by tariffs for the past 18 months.

The two also discussed the importance of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which is done and awaiting the all-clear sign from Washington before it can open.

Then Andrew Stein, of the Children’s Foundation of Michigan, talked about the Michigan Central Station Children’s Endowment initiative launched by Bill Ford and his wife, Lisa, almost two years ago.

Desiree Jennings, Pam Bailey and Andrew Stein

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Tim Lawlis/CBS Detroit

The effort raised over $20 million as Stein discussed how 11 nonprofits were chosen to be part of the program from the 100-plus that applied.

Desiree Jennings of The Children’s Center, one of the 11 organizations, explained how the nonprofit — over 90 years old — will benefit as it helps more young people.

Pam Bailey, of Birth Detroit, a six-year-old organization, another selected for the endowment, explained what the non-profit does and how it will benefit.

Stein talked about endowments and how they help support the community.

(Watch Michigan Matters at its new time: 5:30 a.m. Sundays on CBS Detroit and 9:30 a.m. Sundays on CW Detroit 50 WKBD).

(Carol Cain is the 13-time Emmy-winning senior producer and host of Michigan Matters).

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Michigan tourist areas banking on ‘slow travel’ to woo summer visitors

Published

1 day ago

April 13, 2026

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Michigan tourist areas banking on ‘slow travel’ to woo summer visitors

The U.S. war with Iran, higher travel costs and a sharp drop in Canadian visitors all present tough headwinds for Michigan’s tourism industry, but as operators look ahead to the peak summer season, they’re cautiously optimistic. The reason? The “slow travel” trend.

Places, such as Petoskey, Traverse City and Grand Rapids, are banking on travelers looking for closer, more affordable getaways — a traditional response to uncertainty and financial pressures, said Patrick Brys, a member of the Michigan Travel Commission and CEO of Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery on Old Mission Peninsula north of Traverse City.

“There’s different things happening in the world right now,” Brys said. “What we’ve seen is that when people — there’s insecurity out there, or they’re not sure if they want to travel, or maybe even if their budgets are not as big as other years, then they tend to focus more on local travel. And sometimes some of the best experiences are right in your backyard.”

Major draws like America’s 250th anniversary celebrations are expected to help offset international declines as visitors drive to see more of the state. That’s the kind of travel many Michigan destinations are preparing for this summer.

“I always use the term One Tank Trip,” said Jim Powell, president of the Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau. “To get up here and enjoy yourself, reconnect with nature and enjoy all the amenities that we have up here.”

Canadian visitor drop persists

The decline in Canadian travel has lingered into this year amid a backlash to President Donald Trump’s tariffs and comments about making the U.S. northern neighbor the 51st state.

The number of people crossing into Michigan from Canada across January and February in 2026 fell about 10% compared to the same period in 2025, while vehicle traffic declined about 8%, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

About 10 million fewer Canadians traveled to the United States in 2025 compared with the prior year, a 25% drop, according to Statistics Canada. As international travel continues to lag, early feedback suggests that domestic travel will help offset the slowdown.

“From a good news-bad news story, I would say that the bad news was that Canadian travel, at least from a tourism standpoint, was down about 30% to southeast Michigan,” said Claude Molinari, CEO of Visit Detroit. “But overall, we were pretty much flat as far as hotel occupancy. So that means that we made up for it in other areas.”

Hotel occupancy in the first quarter is running about 4% ahead of last year, he said: “That takes into account the fact that Canada’s off. So that’s good news for what we’re doing.”

Every year since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of travelers has risen, and this year is expected to be no different. In fact, AAA-The Auto Club Group projects 2026 to be the busiest travel year yet, with 36% of Michiganians planning to take more trips than in 2025.

According to AAA’s Consumer Pulse Survey, not only has the intent to travel increased, but individuals are planning multiple trips. More than half of Michiganians, or 54%, plan to take multiple trips this year, with 44% planning two to three vacations of three days or more.

“Travel demand is not just holding, it’s accelerating,” said Debbie Haas, AAA’s vice president of travel, in a release.

Noting recent travel survey data, Janet Korn, senior vice president with Experience Grand Rapids, said she is optimistic that people are planning to take more trips and budget more for travel.

“People are wanting to … get away, go explore some place you’ve been before, or go and explore some new experience that you haven’t visited before,” Korn said.

Pure Michigan, the state’s tourism marketing website, is leaning into the rise of “slow travel,” encouraging visitors to form deeper connections with the state’s landscapes and communities.

“In a world that often feels fast-paced and overscheduled, travel is an opportunity to step back, reconnect and focus on what matters most,” said Kelly Wolgamott, vice president of Pure Michigan, part of the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

Meanwhile, tourism officials are cautiously optimistic that tensions between the United States and Canada will ease.

“I think that doesn’t hurt that the federal government seems to be less focused on Canada and maybe more focused on some other issues right now,” Molinari said. “That does give me some hope that we’ll be able to more normalize relations with our friends south of Detroit.”

Gas price spike affects plans

As for gas prices, the average in the Great Lakes State was $4.01 per gallon for regular as of Tuesday, according to AAA. Pump prices are up by more than $1 since the United States and Israel began attacking Iran in late February.

“We’re now into prices we haven’t seen since 2022,” said Adrienne Woodland, AAA’s spokesperson.

Yet even as Michigan pump prices peaked at $5.22 a gallon in June 2022, summer travel was still higher than the year prior, AAA officials confirmed.

“Even though we were facing record-high gas prices, people still wanted to travel,” Woodland said. “They just may look for other ways to save money, so they’ll travel, they may not eat out as much, or they’ll look for inexpensive or free activities, but they still want to take those trips.”

Tourism officials in some areas say the region’s tourism base helps offset broader concerns, like gas prices.

Trevor Tkach, CEO of Traverse City Tourism, is optimistic the region will see a strong summer as people look to take “short local trips this year that just can make it easy on the budget.”

Jim Powell, executive director at the Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau, said he’s heard from members that they’re seeing a good number of bookings for summer travel.

“I think certainly we’re keeping one eye, you know, the economic uncertainty that … always seems to be hovering over on multiple fronts,” he said. “We had a really strong summer last year. I think it was close to a record visitation summer for us last year, and I think we’ll probably match that.”

Businesses spiff up for summer

On Mackinac Island, hotel operators are preparing for what they expect will be a solid summer season.

Hotel bookings for the first few months are flat or up so far, said Steph Castelein, managing director of the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau. Travelers are expected to start returning to the island this month as Arnold Transit Company and Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry resume spring service to and from the island on April 21.

While Canadian visitation dropped last year, it represents a smaller share of overall visitors to the island, Castelein said.

“Majority of our travelers and visitors come from our travel markets, so primarily Michigan, of course, and then into Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio,” she said. “We get a lot from Pennsylvania. But I don’t think that there was any big change in numbers for domestic versus International outside Canada.”

Mackinac Island is among the places in Michigan that will lean into America 250 celebrations. Plans include commemorating the semiquincentennial with Mackinac State Historic Parks conducting daily programs exploring the American Revolution. Visitors can explore the Soldiers’ Barracks, stop by a fully renovated visitor’s center and pass through a redesigned historic entrance at Fort Mackinac.

Other destinations across Michigan are also planning anniversary events, including The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, which is featuring a yearlong celebration called “America: 250 Years in the Making.”

Back on Mackinac Island, the Grand Hotel is offering a three-night America 250 package with special dining experiences, a children’s carnival, July 4 programming and fireworks.

There are a variety of changes and developments across venues and hotels on Mackinac Island, Castelein said.

Mission Point Resort is debuting Adirondacks Pizza, a new casual dining concept in the Mission Point Marketplace, where guests can enjoy handcrafted slices on the resort’s iconic great lawn.

When it opens in mid-May, Harbour View Inn will reveal a multimillion-dollar renovation that has transformed its guest rooms, suites and gardens. The project has been ongoing for the past couple of years as the inn has taken on new ownership, said Tawnya Johnson, chief marketing officer for hotel investment services for Harbour View Inn.

Last winter, the focus was on public spaces, followed by guest rooms this past offseason, Johnson said.

Johnson describes the upgrades as including “all refreshed interior spaces that feel very much like Mackinac Island. It’s really bright and airy, feels very cottagey and summery.”

In Grand Rapids, one expected draw is the city’s new $184 million Acrisure Amphitheater, a 12,000-seat outdoor music and entertainment venue opening in mid-May.

“It’s amazingly nice,” Korn said. “It’s brand new, so of course, it’s going to be great. But what a cool experience to be able to go into a downtown area and experience the nightlife and the energy of a city, and also see the music all in one trip. It’s where our city used to park their public works trucks and things, and the decision was made that there might be a better use for the edge of the river than that.”

In northwest lower Michigan, Brys said the Traverse City region’s growing food and wine reputation is drawing more visitors, with increasing national recognition and a rising number of wineries and acclaimed restaurants. That momentum is fueling interest in events like the Traverse City Food & Wine Festival, which he described as a major success in its inaugural run last year.

Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery hosted four festival events, which he sold out: “We saw just tremendous interest,” he said. “People were able to come and experience all the things that happened in Traverse City all in one week.”

In Petoskey, the Home2 Suites by Hilton Petoskey is expected to open this summer after about a year of construction, with the extended-stay property becoming the first new hotel in the area in roughly five years.

Powell said Petoskey is expanding beyond its traditional drive market, launching a marketing campaign aimed at air travelers, including a test push into the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

“One of the unique things that we’re doing this year was we’re actually going to reach out to a fly market,” he said. “That’s something we have not done before.”

Boyne Resorts’ Inn at Bay Harbor is now operating as an independent resort separate from the Marriott portfolio, allowing the property to add “refined culinary offerings and bespoke programming along the shores of Little Traverse Bay,” said Erin Ernst, Boyne Resorts spokesperson, in an email.

Boyne Mountain Resort and The Highlands are included in the resort’s portfolio of northern Michigan properties. This summer brings the second season of Doon Brae, The Highlands’ short course, which will be another attraction available for golf enthusiasts heading up north.

“We’re proud to play a part in what makes the Petoskey area a destination worth returning to summer after summer,” Ernst said.

cwilliams@detroitnews.com

mjohnson@detroitnews.com

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