Senate Dems: State Capitol elevator scuffle situation tainted by politics

LANSING — Democratic leaders in the Michigan Senate are alleging that Republicans, who control the chamber, are playing politics with a complaint filed by Detroit Democrat Irma Clark-Coleman, alleging that Saginaw Republican Roger Kahn “charged” the 72-year-old lawmaker in a state Capitol elevator.

On top of filing a complaint with Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, a Republican from Rochester, Clark-Coleman also contacted the Michigan State Police. But the MSP’s Capitol post is not investigating the alleged incident, telling The Saginaw News that Clark-Coleman had indicated she was not interested in pursuing criminal charges.

But Senate Democratic Leader Mike Prusi of Ipsheming Township and Floor Leader Buzz Thomas of Detroit, say Republicans are injecting politics into the investigation.

“The actions and public comments by Senate Republicans and their staff about an ongoing internal and legal investigation are deeply troubling. Instead of acknowledging the seriousness of this incident and working toward addressing it, they have injected politics into the situation, attempted to silence Senator Clark-Coleman, compromised the impartiality of their inquiry, and even threatened the victim yet again through the media,” the pair wrote in a statement released to the media.

To buttress those allegations, Senate Democratic Caucus spokesman Tom Lenard released a memo to the media late Tuesday. The memo follows:

The majority may have already made up it’s mind about the issue and the internal investigation may not be an impartial assessment:

Matt Marsden, Majority Leader’s Spokesman in MIRS
“At this time, we believe this is a disagreement that has been blown out of proportion and that Sen. Kahn in no way threatened her safety or tried to intimidate her in any way,” the spokesman said Friday.

“This was a disagreement between two people who differ philosophically on where the cuts are coming from, but to say there was a threat to anyone’s safety may be taking things a little too far.”

“But Mr. Marsden said their recollections would differ with Ms. Clark-Coleman’s.”
Kahn in the Saginaw News:
Kahn said. “Nobody who was there will validate anything that she had to say.

***
Blatant threats toward the victim:
Matt Marsden, Majority Leader’s spokesman in MIRS:
“There will be repercussions if the allegations are found to be untrue,” said Bishop spokesman Matt MARSDEN, though he added that nothing specific had been discussed…”

***
Admission of inappropriate behavior in this incident and in the past:
Kahn:
“Yes, I am temperamental, but I am not a hitter”
Kahn, 64, admits he became angry.
He did state over the phone that this was just a heated argument and that he never charged Clark-Coleman.

He said he and Clark-Coleman had a verbal argument but that people were standing between them.
Ben Frederick, Kahn staff:
Roger did not appreciate that and disagreed with that assessment vehemently,” Frederick said. “It was merely a verbal exchange and didn’t go beyond that.”
Matt Marsden:
However, a spokesperson for Mr. Bishop said it appeared the incident was an example of an argument that had gone too far.
There was an argument, Mr. Marsden said, and both individuals “probably said things they later wished they hadn’t.”
Sen. Pappageorge:
But Republican Sen. John Pappageorge of Troy, who was also in the elevator at the time of the alleged incident, told TV5 on the phone that the two were indeed arguing
Pappageorge told MIRS that the Approps meeting had gotten heated because “as you know, we don’t have all the money that we ought to be doing.”
“There were words back and forth and it got a little loud,” Pappageorge said.
***
Republicans, not Democrats, are injecting politics:
Kahn:
“The charges are baseless, they’re wrong and they represent politics at its worst,” Kahn said.
Marsden:
“This is an unfortunate disagreement that one senator has decided to exploit for political reasons,” he said.

Marsden, Bishop’s spokesman, had this to say to The Saginaw News:

Marsden told The Saginaw News that his comment came in response to a reporter’s question and was not intended as a threat against Clark-Coleman.

Bishop “takes very seriously the accusations of Sen. Clark-Coleman,” Marsden said in an e-mail, “which is why last week he issued her a letter of intent to investigate the matter through the secretary of the Senate and release the findings of that investigation.”

He wrote all parties or witnesses are scheduled to “testify on the record.”

“The real truth of this incident will come to light, and it will be handled appropriately,” Marsden wrote.

In concluding their joint statement, Prusi and Thomas wrote: “If Senate Republicans and their staff continue to worry more about saving face than correcting this inappropriate behavior, they will severely jeopardize their credibility and undermine the ability of this Legislature to tackle the critical challenges before us.”