Attorney General Dana Nessel Archives

Michigan Attorney General Admits Michigan’s Minimum Wage Increase Poses Difficulties

August 24, 2024August 23, 2024 The Center Square

Republican lawmakers are not the only ones raising concerns about Michigan’s minimum wage changes. Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed a motion with the state’s Supreme Court, asking for guidance on how to implement inflation adjustments.

Nessel specifically pointed out how the court’s broad language in its July ruling could lead to five possible options for when and how to adjust the minimum wage over time, with the state Department of Treasury’s approach and the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s approach also at odds with each other.

National Kroger Settlement Brings Funding to Michigan Communities Damaged by Opioid Addiction

August 10, 2024August 9, 2024 The Center Square

Michigan’s local governments have until Aug. 12 to request funds from the $1.2 billion National Kroger Settlement on opioid abuse.

The Great Lakes state is expected to receive $42 million over the course of 11 years. Eligible communities, at the city or county level, can apply for the funding to be used toward drug abuse treatment. Agreements are expected to be effective by early fall.

Legal Opinion on New Michigan Education Agency ‘Premature,’ AG Nessel Says

August 29, 2023August 29, 2023 The Center Square

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has said it’s too early to determine whether Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s new education agency is legal or not.

On August 8, the State Department of Education requested an attorney general legal opinion regarding the constitutionality of Whitmer’s executive order creating the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential.

After Wisconsin Line 5 Ruling, Michigan Business Leaders Say Build the Tunnel

June 20, 2023June 19, 2023 The Center Square

A federal court on Friday ordered Canadian oil company Enbridge to cease the flow of oil and decommission within three years the segment of its Line 5 pipeline in Wisconsin trespassing on the reservation of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.

Concurrently, Michigan’s business leaders urged the United States Army Corps of Engineers to give the approval needed for the construction of the Great Lakes Tunnel.

Economists: Railroad Derailments Highlight Necessity of Line 5

February 28, 2023February 27, 2023 Admin

As two train derailments – one in Ohio and one in Michigan – remain national news, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel continue their crusade to shut down the Line 5 pipeline.

If successful in their efforts, moving the petroleum products would transition from pipelines to tanker truck and rail transportation, according to experts interviewed by The Center Square. This transition would likely drive up prices for consumers, increase carbon emissions, and prove less safe, they say.

Michigan Judge Orders Flint Water Charges Dropped Against Former Gov. Snyder

December 13, 2022December 12, 2022 Admin

A Genesee County Circuit Court judge has ordered charges dropped against former Gov. Rick Snyder for his role in handling the Flint water crisis.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s Flint legal team vowed to appeal.

Election Integrity Volunteers ‘Afraid’ to Attend Recount after Michigan AG Threatens Prosecution

December 12, 2022December 11, 2022 Just the News

An apparent threat by Michigan’s Democrat Attorney General Dana Nessel to arrest and prosecute local activists promoting election integrity and anti-voter fraud efforts caused many of them to steer clear of a contentious monitoring effort out of fear of being targeted by the government, according to a Michigan attorney deeply involved in the situation.

Across Michigan on Wednesday, dozens of counties and hundreds of precincts began a recount for two controversial ballot proposals that were approved by voters on Nov. 8.

Michigan AG Nessel Seeks Special Prosecutor in 2020 Election Probe

August 9, 2022August 8, 2022 The Center Square

Attorney General Dana Nessel is seeking a special prosecutor to consider criminal charges against nine people who engaged in a “conspiracy” to gain access to voting machines while disputing the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

The nine people include some high-profile names, including Trump-endorsed, GOP attorney general candidate Matt DePerno, state Rep. Daire Rendon, R-Lake City, and Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf. The letter says the group convinced local clerks to give access to tabulators that the group took to rented areas in Oakland County, where they printed fake ballots and did other tests.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer Pledges to ‘Fight like Hell’ for Abortions in Michigan

June 25, 2022June 24, 2022 Cooper Moran

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer pledged to “fight like hell” to maintain access to abortions for women in Michigan, according to a release from her office.

The statement follows a decision from the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, which established a constitutional right for abortions.

Whitmer Signs Bill Giving Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency $140M to Overhaul Agency

April 12, 2022April 11, 2022 Admin

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill appropriating nearly $140 million to revamp Michigan’s embattled Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA.)

“This fiscally-responsible, bipartisan bill will lower costs for small businesses and fight waste, fraud, and abuse in our unemployment system,” Whitmer said in a statement. “This is the latest step we are taking to fight fraud, hold people accountable, and strengthen the Unemployment Insurance Agency after decades of disinvestment. By making a deposit into the Unemployment Compensation Fund, we can help small businesses balance their books by lowering the costs of unemployment.”

Michigan Attorney General Nessel: Report Refutes Allegation State Undercounted Nursing Home COVID Deaths

March 16, 2022March 15, 2022 The Center Square

A January 2022 Office of Auditor General’s (OAG) report alleging Michigan undercounted COVID nursing home deaths by 42%, or 2,386 is being refuted by an analysis shared by Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Nessel released a further analysis tracked by the Health, Education, and Family Services Division within the Department of Attorney General.

Michigan Joins Bipartisan Investigation into Social Media App TikTok

March 4, 2022March 3, 2022 Peter D'Abrosca

Michigan’s Secretary of State Thursday announced that the state will join a bipartisan investigation into popular Chinese-owned social media company TikTok.

“Recent reports on social media’s impact on the mental and physical health of young people raise serious questions among attorneys general across the nation. Ultimately, we are concerned about protecting our youth,” Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) said in a press release. “I am proud to join my colleagues in this investigation. Given this is an ongoing investigation, I will not be discussing any details beyond this announcement.”

Judge Orders Review of Flint Water Documents

January 11, 2022January 10, 2022 The Center Square

A Genesee County judge denied Attorney General Dana Nessel’s request to overturn a Nov. 19 order that Michigan stop using documents that might violate attorney-client privilege until reviewed by independent investigators.

The Associated Press first reported the story.

Emails obtained by the conservative Michigan Rising Action show Nessel’s prosecutors were warned they acquired records protected by attorney-client privilege when they gained access to as many as 20 million documents related to the Flint Water Crisis.

Attorney General Nessel Offers to Review Oxford Shooting

December 7, 2021December 6, 2021 The Center Square

Attorney General Dana Nessel has offered to review the Oxford High School shooting that has left four students dead.

Nessel’s spokeswoman Lynsey Mukomel told The Center Square in an email that they offered the AG’s services “to conduct a full and comprehensive review of the 11/30/21 shooting and the events leading up to it.”

“Our attorneys and special agents are uniquely qualified to perform an investigation of this magnitude and are prepared to perform an extensive investigation and inquiry to answer the many questions the community has regarding this tragedy,” the email read.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel Launches Holiday Consumer Protection Campaign

November 29, 2021November 28, 2021 Cooper Moran

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Wednesday announced her office is launching a holiday consumer protection campaign.

The goal of the initiative is to protect consumer’s information while shopping in person or online throughout the holiday season.

Michigan’s Nessel Gets Drunk at College Football Game, Wheeled Out of Stadium

November 11, 2021November 11, 2021 Peter D'Abrosca

Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) claims that two Bloody Marys on an empty stomach led to her being drunkenly wheeled out of Spartan Stadium on Oct. 30, while the University of Michigan (UM) played Michigan State University (MSU) in a rivalry college football matchup.

On Facebook, Nessel, Michigan’s top attorney, posted a photo of herself slumped over in her seat during the game, with a long explainer attempting to joke her way out of the incident, and noting that “my staff has pleaded with me to hire a crisis-management PR firm,” but that she would rather handle the explaining herself.

Despite Increased Revenue Projections, Michigan Gov. Whitmer Tells State Agencies to Brace for Shutdown

September 4, 2021September 3, 2021 Bradley Vasoli

Last week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s (D-MI) State Budget Director Dave Massaron instructed state department heads to begin preparing for a possible government shutdown, though Michigan taxpayers may have other concerns to expect from current budget negotiations.

Technically, Michigan state lawmakers are supposed to have passed a full budget for the governor’s signature by July 1, although officials have until Sept. 30 to finalize an agreement that would avoid a partial government shutdown.

Michigan Could Get $800 Million from Opioid Settlement

August 24, 2021August 23, 2021 The Center Square

Michigan could receive up to nearly $800 million from a proposed multibillion-dollar national opioid settlement with Johnson & Johnson and the three largest pharmaceutical distributors in the country: Cardinal Health, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel officially signed the agreement announced last month for the companies role in the opioid epidemic.

Michigan Attorney General Nessel Claims ‘Democracy’ on Ballot in New Campaign Ad

August 14, 2021August 13, 2021 Peter D'Abrosca

In a new campaign ad for her reelection, Attorney General Dana Nessel says “democracy is on the ballot.”

“AG Dana Nessel’s Republican opponents support ‘The Big Lie’ and violent extremists. Whether it’s elections or domestic terrorism-what happens in Michigan doesn’t stay in Michigan. It impacts all of America. Let’s make sure Dana is re-elected. Our democracy depends upon it,” Nessel said in a Tweet, attaching her ad.

Michigan Attorney General to Investigate Individuals Who Raised Election Security Concerns

July 10, 2021July 9, 2021 Cooper Moran

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced on Thursday that her office will use taxpayer funds and the state’s police to investigate people who raised concerns of the security of the November 2020 election.

According to the attorney general’s spokesperson, she will accept a request from Michigan GOP state senators to examine individuals allegedly earned money from false claims.

Michigan Attorney General Nessel Won’t Investigate Gov. Whitmer’s Nursing Home Policy

March 19, 2021March 18, 2021 The Center Square

Attorney General Dana Nessel rejected Republicans’ request to investigate Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s COVID-19 nursing home policy.

A Republican state senator said Monday that Attorney General Dana Nessel is expected to announce by the middle of the week whether she will investigate Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s COVID-19 nursing home policies.

“I called on the attorney general to carry out an honest investigation into Michigan’s nursing home policies weeks ago,” Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake, said in a statement. “I’ve learned from the attorney general’s office that they intend to announce a decision by Wednesday. Attorney General Nessel knows the right thing to do – and that is to get answers for every family who lost a loved one to COVID-19 in a nursing home.”

Prosecutor Says Whitmer Could Face Criminal Charges over Nursing Home Deaths

March 10, 2021March 9, 2021 Peter D'Abrosca

Facing a situation similar to New York’s embattled Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) is now under scrutiny from prosecutors about COVID-19 deaths in Michigan’s nursing homes.

“If we find there’s been willful neglect of office if we find there’s been reckless endangerment of a person’s life by bringing them in then we would move forward with charges against the Governor,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido told WXZY. “Of course, we would. Nobody’s above the law in this state.”

Whitmer Wants Lawyers Who Challenged Election Results Disbarred

February 3, 2021February 2, 2021 Peter D'Abrosca

Michigan’s Democrat governor is once again tip-toeing towards authoritarianism, this time seeking the disbarment of attorneys who happen to be political opponents.

“Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, three Democrats who are lawyers themselves, filed complaints Monday with the Attorney Grievance Commission in Michigan and the State Bar of Texas,” according to The Detroit News. “Their filings ask that Michigan attorneys Greg Rohl, Scott Hagerstrom and Stefanie Junttila and Texas attorney Sidney Powell be disbarred and lose the ability to practice law in their states.”

AG Nessel Hopeful a Buttigieg Cabinet Position Will Seal Line 5’s Fate

December 26, 2020December 26, 2020 The Center Square

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Tuesday expressed her approval of former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg as a nominee to head up the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Michigan Judge Rejects Lawsuit to Overturn Election Results: ‘The People Have Spoken’

December 8, 2020December 7, 2020 The Center Square

A federal judge on Monday denied a lawsuit seeking to overturn the Nov. 3, 2020, election results in favor of President Donald Trump, saying it would “ignore the will of millions of voters.”

U.S. District Court Judge Linda Parker of Michigan’s Eastern District in Detroit wrote the opinion.

Michigan Board Approves Circulation of Recall Petition Against State Attorney General

October 21, 2020October 20, 2020 The Center Square

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers on Oct. 15 approved the petition language for a recall against Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D). The board previously rejected five recall petitions against Nessel in 2020. Supporters of the recall effort need to submit 1,046,006 signatures within a 60-day period to require a recall election. The 60 days begin on the first day that signatures are collected. The recall petition must be submitted to the office of the Michigan Secretary of State no later than 180 days after it was approved by the board.

Nessel Joins Other 21 AGs Requesting Supreme Court Review of Title X Contraceptive Rule

October 11, 2020October 10, 2020 Michigan Star Staff

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined 21 state attorneys general Tuesday to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review a lower court’s decision to uphold an administration Title X rule from President Donald Trump.

Pro-life opponents disagree.

Michigan Governor Blames Trump After 13 Charged in Kidnap Plot

October 9, 2020October 8, 2020 The Associated Press

Agents foiled a stunning plot to kidnap Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, authorities said Thursday in announcing charges in an alleged scheme that involved months of planning and even rehearsals to snatch her from her vacation home.

Six men were charged in federal court with conspiring to kidnap the governor in reaction to what they viewed as her “uncontrolled power,” according to a federal complaint. Separately, seven others were charged in state court under Michigan’s anti-terrorism laws for allegedly targeting police and seeking a “civil war.”

Enbridge Given Court Approval to Open Both Legs of Line 5 as Early as Thursday

September 14, 2020September 13, 2020 Michigan Star Staff

Both legs of Enbridge’s Line 5 have been given the legal go-ahead to resume operations across the Straits of Mackinac.
Ingham County Circuit Court Judge James Jamo approved the resumption of Line 5 activity after receiving authorization from the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

Michigan A.G. Nessel Joined Two Legal Actions Against Trump Immigration Rules in December

January 7, 2020January 7, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined legal actions against two immigration-related rules from President Donald Trump’s administration in December. According to a statement from Nessel’s office, Michigan’s chief law enforcement officer has joined Democratic attorneys general from around the country in challenging Trump’s effort to revoke Temporary Protected Status…