Former Michigan Speaker Lee Chatfield trial witness list includes lawmakers, aides, lobbyists

Craig Mauger, The Detroit News on Aug 26, 2026

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LANSING, Mich. — Two current lawmakers, an array of political staffers and one of the most active lawyers in advising legislators' secret fundraising accounts are slated to be called as witnesses at former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield's upcoming trial, according to new court documents.

Ahead of the trial, which is scheduled to begin Sept. 21 in Ingham County and could shine light on the way money flows in the Capitol, Attorney General Dana Nessel's office and Chatfield's defense team had to provide lists of the individuals they planned to call to testify.

Chatfield, a Levering Republican, held the top position in the state House in 2019 and 2020. He is now facing 13 felony charges, including allegations of embezzlement. He's pleaded not guilty.

Among the 21 people on Nessel's witness list were state Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan; Lindsay Young, the chief of staff for current House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township; and attorney W. Alan Wilk of the Dykema law firm.

Cavitt previously served on the board of Chatfield's nonprofit fundraising account, the Peninsula Fund, which could collect money from donors whose names didn't have to be disclosed to the public. Prosecutors have alleged that Lee and his wife, Stephanie Chatfield, repeatedly moved money from the Peninsula Fund to make $152,270 in direct payments on their personal credit card. Some were legitimate nonprofit expenses, while others weren't, prosecutors argued.

Young previously worked in Chatfield's House office. And Wilk has provided legal counsel to a variety of nonprofit accounts connected to Michigan officeholders, including former Gov. Rick Snyder and former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.

Three other Dykema employees were also listed as potential prosecution witnesses, along with Doug Simon, business director of the Michigan House. Prosecutors have alleged that the former speaker filed faulty mileage reimbursement forms with the House Business Office, whose director reported to him as speaker.

Among the other witnesses whom Nessel's office might call are two of Lee Chatfield's brothers, Aaron and Paul Chatfield, and Rebekah Chatfield, his sister-in-law.

Michigan police began probing Lee Chatfield around January 2022 after a complaint was filed by Rebekah Chatfield, who said she'd been sexually abused by Lee Chatfield beginning when she was 15. The sexual assault investigation was closed by prosecutors without charges.

Nessel's office said it might also call Robert Anderson and Anne Minard to testify. Anderson was Chatfield's constituent relations director. Anne Minard was Lee Chatfield's fundraising consultant and a House staffer for him.

As part of a deal with prosecutors last year, Minard pleaded guilty to two felony charges, admitted to embezzling money from the Peninsula Fund and agreed to testify against her former boss.

Robert Minard, her husband and Chatfield's former chief of staff, reached a similar plea deal with prosecutors and was not on the potential witness list from Nessel's office.

Chatfield's lawyer, Mary Chartier, listed six people on her potential witness list, including state Sen. Joe Bellino, R-Monroe, who served in the House with Chatfield, and Brian Mills, who was Chatfield's policy director.

She also listed Kurt Berryman and Terry Burns, who worked for the state's auto dealers association, a lobbying organization that advocates on behalf of car dealers in Lansing.

Chatfield was accused of using Peninsula Fund money to rent an apartment from a business entity tied to the dealers association, subleasing space in the apartment to others and then pocketing the money.

The Detroit News first revealed the arrangement in December 2022.

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