Republican former Michigan State Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield, responding to reports of a criminal investigation by the Lansing Police Department over a complaint filed by his own sister-in-law who alleges Chatfield, 33, molested her beginning in 2009 when she was 15 and continued “sexual exploitation” of her until July 2021, claims through his lawyer their sexual relationship was consensual in both her age at the time, 18, and she did so willingly, the Detroit News reports.

Chatfield lawyer Mary Chartier also admitted it wasn’t the only extramarital affair Chatfield has had. That the MAGA bro former legislator’s first public response to such a report is “limited hangout” type damage control is pretty impressive. This guy must really be fucked.

The unnamed woman’s lawyer, Jamie White, said Chatfield’s sexual abuse of her client continued well into her adulthood, even on her wedding night. Chatfield is the second Republican member of the Michigan State House to find his treatment of women scrutinized in recent months after Rep Steve Marino’s well-chronicled campaign of aggression against ex-girlfriend and out-of-his-league Dem colleague Rep Mari Manoogian ended with a House sergeant babysitting Marino on the chamber floor to ensure he didn’t violate the restraining order Manoogian filed against him.

UPDATE 1/8/21 1:59 PM: Bridge Michigan spoke directly with the accuser, who stepped forward and identified herself as Rebekah Chatfield, married to Lee’s brother Aaron, who also went on the record and says he fully supports his wife’s allegations against his older brother, Lee.