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Matthew has been fighting against tyranny in Michigan for many years, including protesting across the state against Whitmer and Nessel's unconstitutional mask mandates, school and business lockdowns, vaccine mandates, and critical race theory. 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. We're not just a news organization, we're also your neighbors. He argued Michigan needed "the guidance of a fighter. Gretchen Whitmer imposed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. ", We're not just a news organization, we're also your neighbors. Critics of Karamo questioned her ability to unite the party, raise money and her history of spreading unfounded conspiracy theories involving elections, porn and yoga. 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 . 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. DePerno is a "workaholic" who goes to great lengths for his clients and is like an "encyclopedia" of law and the Constitution, Bailey told Bridge. After her election Saturday night, Karamo told The Detroit News her first priority as party chair is to grow the party with everyday residents and individuals in areas weve never penetrated, especially in urban America." Gaining unauthorized access to voting machines is a felony in Michigan. Nessel's office began its investigation in February, before DePerno was her opponent. 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. If Matthew DePerno wins his race to unseat Michigan's Democratic attorney general in November, he'll become the state's top lawyer. After practicing law as a partner at a large law firm for 10 years, Matthew opened his own law practice in 2005, DePerno Law, PLLC. Baker didn't respond to a request for comment. 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. Jimmy Greene, president of Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan, is among the state Republicans who have warmed to DePerno as the general election neared. 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. They need to see a party actually advocating for the values we espouse. Gretchen Whitmer in public polling and in the last election. "As attorney general, you're the state's chief law enforcement officer. Matthew DePerno is an attorney who serves clients worldwide from his office in Kalamazoo Michigan, USA. 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. Whitmer" for her nursing home policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, called for increased transparency standards for state government and voiced opposition to abortion. Nessel joked about a "drag queen for every school" during an event in June. Matt attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree. 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. Civil rights issues are a main focus of Nessel's, and she founded the Fair Michigan Foundation. Elissa Slotkin announces bid to succeed Debbie Stabenow. 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. Dodge has since retired and told Bridge Michigan he did not remember the dispute well. In November 2020, Antrim County resident, William Bailey, hired Matthew to represent him in his lawsuit against Antrim County and the Michigan Secretary of States office, to conduct his own audit of the November general election irregularities in Antrim County. Trump, who has touted DePerno's legal efforts, endorsed him to be Michigan's attorney general on Sept. 16, 2021. Michigan GOP delegates chose ex-President Donald Trump's candidates for attorney general, Matthew DePerno, and secretary of state, Kristina Karamo. Who's in, out of race? At the end of 2020, DePerno began gaining national attention for challenging the election results in northern Michigan's Antrim County. On. And in early 2022, state Rep. Ryan Berman of Commerce Township, who previously ran for attorney general as a Republican against DePerno, said DePerno's "skeletons have skeletons. Matthew and his team captured forensic images of the Dominion Voting machines and conducted forensic analyses of those images to fully understand the errors and inconsistencies in the voting process and tabulation procedures prior to, during, and after the 2020 general election. 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. He cut his teeth as a tax attorney in southwest Michigan but eventually expanded his Portage-based practice. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Whitmer won her first term by 9 points over Republican Bill Schuette in 2018. DePerno's campaign didn't respond. A Republican-led state Senate panel that spent months investigating the contest found no evidence of widespread fraud. The two have been married for over 26 years and raised three children together. "That would be a privileged question.". 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. DePerno holds an English degree from the University of Michigan, a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy and a graduate degree in taxation from the New York University School of Law. That happens all the time, and then things are resolved.. From beginning to end, the problem is you.. Getting Trumps endorsement was huge for DePernos campaign. LaBrant labeled DePerno a "fool" with a "checkered past.". But his supporters see him as a tenacious champion who's willing to take up causes others have declined. DePerno had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump. They've suggested fraud and hacking. The Moffits never filed a criminal complaint. Kari Lake, a champion for election integrity and the America First Movement, has officially endorsed Matt DePerno for MI GOP Chairman. In Ingham County, a judge overseeing Todd Coursers criminal case announced he might retire before his term ended because the headache of dealing with DePerno and the other attorneys started to "eat away" at him. Trump, who's campaigning for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024, endorsed DePerno for party chair in January. She has repeatedly made unproven and false claims about Michigan's voting system. But Democrats have slammed his continued unproven claims about fraud in the 2020 election. 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. Matthew DePerno (Attorney General) - $771,799. 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.. Matthew Wilk of Northville said Republicans cant rely on the state party to do things the state GOP used to do. Hilson, a Democrat who was named the special prosecutor in September, continues to review the case. 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. Perry Johnson (Governor) - $270,000. Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel, whom DePerno is hoping to unseat, and her supporters have made DePerno's efforts to undermine the 2020 presidential election and the uncertainties surrounding his finances key issues in the race to be the state's chief law enforcement officer. Michigan GOP precinct delegates will vote to endorse a candidate at an April 23 convention that will decide the partys de facto nominee to take on Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel in November. 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. 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. More:The DePerno 9: Outspoken election critics tied to Michigan tabulator 'conspiracy'. The guys got no ethics at all, William Buhl, a retired Van Buren County Circuit Court judge and former Republican, told Bridge. Getting Trumps endorsement was huge for DePernos campaign. On Saturday morning, Macomb County Republican Chairman Mark Forton dropped out of the state chair race, leaving nine remaining candidates. The Moffits never filed a criminal complaint. 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. The sides eventually settled out of court in 2008. Not authorized by any candidate. Matt and Laura have three wonderful children who are all current or former students at Michigan State University (MSU). Election Integrity Based. Forton endorsed Karamo before the first round of voting. 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. They've raised concerns about Dominion Voting Systems, the equipment used in Antrim County. John Engler. They advanced to a second round before Karamo beat DePerno in the third and final vote. Thank goodness that most of my cases were nothing like this one.. His work on an unsuccessful lawsuit challenging 2020 results in Antrim County put him on the front lines of Trumps attempt to overturn the election, and litigation involving that effort continues. 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. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement. Both of the final two candidates, Karamo and DePerno, had denied the results of the 2020 election: Trump's loss. "We look forward to having a Republican Party that shows Michiganders that were here to serve. DePerno skyrocketed to fame in conservative circles in the aftermath of the 2020 election, alleging voting machines were compromised because unofficial results were skewed toward President Joe Biden before they were corrected. 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. Matthew DePerno, who is running for the Michigan Republican party's nomination for state attorney general, speaks at a rally hosted by former President Donald Trump on April 2, 2022 near. Democratic President Joe Biden beat Trump by 154,188 votes in Michigan. But it leaves him running to. New York University School of Law Master of Laws (LL.M.) DePerno has also said he supports and would enforce the states 1931 ban on abortion. 1:04. DePerno has begun to pivot to other issues during the general election campaign, but a special prosecutor is investigating him and others on allegations they illegally accessed voting machine equipment in their efforts to investigate the election. 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 will issue bench warrants.". Buhl, the former judge, had already been retired for six years when he began observing DePernos legal work because he was asked to serve as an expert witness in the Moffits malpractice suit. 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. Natalie DePerno, 23, graduated with an accounting degree from MSU. "I've been doing this for 25 years," DePerno said of his legal background. Then, on June 23, 2021, DePerno filed a motion to have the bench warrants set aside "nunc pro tunc," essentially meaning the cancellation should be retroactive to the day the warrants were issued in February 2020. Matthew DePerno: What to know about Michigan GOP attorney general candidate. In recent weeks, DePerno has campaigned on strengthening parents' rights and showed up at a contentious Dearborn school board meeting over books in a school library with sexual or violent content to speak on the issue. Michigans nonpartisan, nonprofit news source. Sponsor The COVID-19 pandemic hit Michigan weeks after the DePerno bench warrant was signed. DePernos biggest claim to fame has been his efforts to find evidence that fraud cost Trump the election. "The sanction award far exceeds the petitioners' ability to pay," Baker wrote in a filing on Jan. 9, 2020. 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper, DePerno said of the last presidential election. Miller called it a sad day for the GOP. Greenlee, who's worked in politics for more than three decades, appeared to be gaining some level of support on Saturday. DePerno has never been publicly disciplined by the state, according to records from the Attorney Discipline Board. In a related case, involving a malpractice claim against DePerno, he argued the Kreis Enderle firm invented a claim of misconduct to deny him state unemployment benefits. Matt and Laura have three wonderful children who are all current or former students at Michigan State University (MSU). As DePerno worked on the 2020 election, his law office's website linked to a fundraising page that brought in nearly $400,000. ", "If it wasn't for Matt, we'd be out on the streets," Dernis told Bridge. Samantha DePerno, 19, began her sophomore year at MSU this past Fall, 2021. In 1994, he received his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and the following year his Masters in Taxation Law (LL.M.) Whitmer" for her nursing home policies. She becomes the first Black person to lead the Michigan GOP. 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. I'll continue to write good people in on my election ballots. 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. DePerno took on "several cases regarding the unconstitutional nature of these lockdowns and mandates.". Recently, in an election of national significance, a Donald Trump-backed candidate was easily bested in his quest to lead the Michigan Republican Party, a state considered pivotal for control of both the Senate and the presidency in 2024. Some Michigan Republicans say they are . "Incredibly, the appeals court noted, DePerno made the following analogy: lets assume a Judge was raped. 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. 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. If you can't abide by the laws and the rules, how do you have the moral authority to prosecute criminals?". 62. Beginningin June 1995, he practiced at Kreis, Enderle, Callander & Hudgins, 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. "They don't make guys like him anymore. He been critical of Nessels record as attorney general, accusing her of botching the criminal case involving the Flint water scandal and referring to her as drunk Dana because she admitted being intoxicated at a college football game. The contraceptive prevents ovulation and does not induce an abortion. On his website he states he would declare critical race theory unconstitutional, calling it a Marxist agenda..