LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Former Michigan Attorneys General Mike Cox and Bill Schuette provided what some might call a timely refresher in government ethics during a recent Oversight Subcommittee on the Weaponization of State Government chaired by Michigan Rep. Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia). The two former AGs laid out, in clear terms, the proper role of the state’s top legal officer. Their key point? The job doesn’t include acting as a political enforcer.

“I’m grateful we were able to hear from two AGs that actually know their job description,” Rigas quipped, taking a not-so-subtle jab at current AG Dana Nessel, who is a Democrat. The hearing quickly morphed into what sounded like a masterclass on how not to run an attorney general’s office – featuring, of course, Dana Nessel as Exhibit A.

Schuette slams soft-on-crime stance.

MORE NEWS: Broken Trust: Michigan Authorities Failed to Save Abused Child, Report Finds

Schuette minced no words about what he sees as Nessel’s cavalier approach to law enforcement, saying, “If there’s an attorney general who supports policies to defund the police or is lax on enforcing the law, well I would describe that as reckless and irresponsible behavior.”

Cox on Nessel’s legal busywork.

Cox, meanwhile, spotlighted Nessel’s tendency to join federal lawsuits that don’t have much to do with Michigan. Case in point: Nessel hopping into a lawsuit over probationary federal workers, while ignoring the fact that Michigan itself enforces similar probationary periods. Cox essentially summed it up as Nessel prioritizing political grandstanding over Michigan’s actual interests.

 

 

Rigas gets personal.

Nessel’s weaponization of her office was also on the table for discussion. Rigas reminded the room that Nessel once went after her personally during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown protests, ticketing her for attending a First Amendment event and attempting to revoke her business license. “That’s a clear example of weaponization of state government,” Rigas said, before thanking Cox and Schuette for their help in “reintroducing” Michigan to the actual duties of an AG.

More luggage in Nessel’s closet.

MORE NEWS: Second Half Surges Sends MSU to Sweet 16

The subcommittee also took a trip down memory lane, digging into Nessel’s handling of the Flint Water Crisis and the controversial prosecution of the 2020 Trump electors. And yes, there’s still more to come for the committee to look into. Rigas noted that they are awaiting records from Nessel’s office detailing legal fees and contracts related to the Flint cases.

“If you’re a Democrat or a Republican, you have to fear prosecutors who view things through a prism like that,” Cox warned, suggesting that Lady Justice’s blindfold seems to be slipping under Nessel.

Rigas left the meeting with a final promise: “I’ve got a feeling this is only the beginning of our investigation.”