1 MI Lawmaker Has Been Accused Of Sexual Misconduct Since 2017

LANSING, MI — One Michigan lawmaker is among more than 100 across the country now accused of sexual misconduct in the four years since the onset of the national “#MeToo” reckoning in 2017, according to data collected by The Associated Press.

The state lawmakers are among other politicians, entertainers and business leaders exposed in the social justice movement to end sexual abuse and sexual harassment. The movement began in 2017 when movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, now a convicted sex offender, was accused by more than 80 women of sexual misconduct allegations dating back to the late 1970s.

The movement that inspired the #MeToo hashtag also prompted a flurry of new legislation, training requirements for legislators and investigative guidelines in statehouses across America, including in Michigan.

The AP compiled the database as part of its ongoing coverage of how politicians are responding to sexual misconduct claims. It includes state lawmakers only.

It doesn’t include members of Congress or other elected officials investigated regarding sexual misconduct claims — notably New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is embroiled in a sexual harassment investigation, or Florida Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, who was initially investigated in connection with sex trafficking and now faces a larger review into public corruption.

Some of the allegations against state lawmakers are no less serious.

Nationally, more than 40 of the accused state lawmakers have resigned or were expelled from office, and at least as many others faced other repercussions, including the loss of committee leadership positions, The AP reported. A handful were cleared.

The lawmakers included in the database are predominantly men, but a couple of women also have been accused of sexual misconduct. Both Democrats and Republicans are the subjects of what could be career-ending investigations.

In Michigan, current Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido has been accused of sexual harassment. He was removed from a committee chairmanship on March 5, 2020, and ordered to undergo training after a Senate investigation concluded that the allegations of sexual harassment were credible.

Lucido was accused in January 2020 of telling a female reporter who sought to interview him that high school boys visiting the Capitol could "have a lot of fun with you."

State Sen. Mallory McMorrow in January also filed a sexual harassment complaint against Lucido over a November 2018 incident in which she alleged he made a remark suggesting she won an election because of her looks while he held his hand on her lower back for an extended period.

A third woman also made allegations against him.

Patch has reached out to Lucido's office for comment.

About three-fourths of the states have passed some 75 laws and resolutions over the past two years that target sexual harassment, abuse or assault in government or in private business. About half the states renewed or extended deadlines to pursue criminal charges or civil lawsuits over childhood sexual abuse.

In Michigan, the legislation includes Republican SB 872, which was introduced and later signed in 2018. The bill extends the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits over childhood sexual offenses until the victim is age 28, or within three years of the victim discovering the offense, whichever is later

States also updated their sexual harassment policies and required training of lawmakers on appropriate workplace conduct. At least 45 House chambers and 43 Senate chambers now require legislators to receive training on appropriate workplace conduct and on preventing, identifying and reporting sexual misconduct.

About half of state legislative chambers have turned to independent investigators to look into complaints of sexual misconduct and harassment by lawmakers.

Michigan requires training for state lawmakers. But while the senate requires external investigations, the Michigan house does not.