The girl accusing Michigan’s former Home Speaker of repeatedly raping her for greater than a decade admits she initiated contact together with her alleged attacker – however says she solely did so as a result of she was ‘brainwashed’ and ‘groomed’ by the ex-lawmaker.
Rebekah Chatfield, 26, got here ahead final week to element her ordeal after submitting the prison criticism in opposition to Lee Chatfield final month.
Within the prison submitting, she accused Michigan’s youngest Home speaker in additional than a century of sexually assaulting her a number of occasions whereas she attended Northern Michigan Christian Academy, which was run by his household.
Rebekah – who claims the abuse started when she was 15 – conceded in an interview with Bridge Michigan that she at occasions reached out to Chatfield, however claimed she was below his spell through the time.
‘It was by no means consensual, as a result of it began once I was a minor – the brainwashing, the mentality, the manipulation, the psychological, the emotional – he groomed me into being who he wished me to be,’ she instructed the outlet.
Chatfield, 33, was elected in 2014 and served because the state’s Home Speaker in 2019. The next 12 months, he headed the delegation of seven Michigan GOP leaders who met with then-president Donald Trump on the White Home as he tried to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s win within the state.
Rebekah Chatfield, 26, claims she was sexually abused for greater than a decade by former Michigan Home Speaker Lee Chatfield
Lee Chatfield, the youngest Home speaker in additional than a century, was the Republican chief for 2 years earlier than he left the Home in 2021 resulting from time period limits
The alleged abuse by the married politician, who left workplace in 2021 resulting from time period limits, continued via final 12 months, in line with the criticism.
Michigan police on Thursday mentioned they’re investigating her allegations.
The abuse by the married politician, who left workplace in 2021 resulting from time period limits, continued via final 12 months, in line with the criticism.
Michigan police on Thursday mentioned they’re investigating her criticism.
Rebekah married the politician’s youthful brother Aaron in 2014 after the 2 met on the Christian academy in Burt Lake – the place the brothers’ father, a pastor, was the superintendent of the college.
Aaron and Rebekah Chatfield met on the Christian academy and received married seven years in the past
Lee Chatfield didn’t deny having an affair along with his brother’s sister however his lawyer characterised interactions with ‘the girl who’s now claiming she was raped’ as consensual.
‘He didn’t assault this lady in any method throughout their years-long grownup relationship. He intends to vigorously struggle these false claims,’ mentioned the lawyer, Mary Chartier.
‘Their affair lasted for years, however they have been each consenting adults.’
In her interview with Bridge Michigan, Rebekah detailed the years of alleged abuse after retaining the affair secret for greater than a decade as a result of she was too ashamed and afraid to inform anybody, together with her mates, members of the family or her husband, she mentioned.
Lee Chatfield (pictured along with his spouse and kids) admitted to having sexual relations along with his sister-in-law, however claims they have been consensual
His lawyer mentioned the affair ‘lasted years’ and that the politician ‘intends to vigorously struggle these claims’
‘He destroyed me, and has managed my life since I used to be 15-16, the previous 10-11 years,’ she mentioned. ‘And I do know the one solution to get justice for that is to come back ahead and to file a prison (criticism) in opposition to him.’
Rebekah mentioned the abuse began earlier than she married Aaron Chatfield once they have been each 19 and continued all through Lee Chatfield’s tenure in workplace.
She mentioned the primary occasion of abuse occurred within the basement stairway of the Chatfields’ residence when she was 15 years previous.
She mentioned as she tried to go upstairs, Lee blocked her and started groping her via her garments.
‘Finally he stopped after which he received up, walked to open the door and he let me return as much as my room,’ she mentioned. ‘That was simply the beginning of it.’
In Michigan, 15-year-olds cannot legally consent to intercourse and adults may be charged with statutory rape for having intercourse with teenagers below 16.
Rebekah, who mentioned she by no means stored a diary or proof of her encounters with Lee out of worry her husband would discover it, alleges the assaults continued ‘extra occasions than I can rely’ over time, Bridge reported.
Chatfield, 33, was elected in 2014 and served because the state’s Home Speaker in 2019
The Chatfield household poses for a household {photograph} (Aaron and Lee pictured subsequent to one another far left)
Lee Chatfield’s (pictured second from proper) coached Rebekah on the soccer workforce on the Christian academy run by his father
She mentioned issues escalated when Lee would discover excuses to textual content her late at evening and would enter the visitor room the place she slept and grope her whereas she lay shocked and scared.
She mentioned the encounters have been usually brief as a result of Lee’s spouse was within the couple’s close by bed room however over time the abuse finally was undesirable intercourse.
Rebekah mentioned when she met Lee she was a weak high-schooler with a troubled residence life and he took her below his wing, permitting her to remain in a single day at his household residence along with his spouse and their younger youngsters.
Rebekah’s husband Aaron has come ahead to publicly assist her
He says whereas he was not conscious of the alleged assaults by his brother he did have suspicions years in the past about his brother’s shut conduct with Rebekah
Rebekah would even baby-sit infrequently.
Lee Chatfield was a younger instructor at Northern Michigan Christian Academy who taught a number of of Rebekah’s courses and was an assistant coach for her soccer workforce.
Rusty Chatfield, Lee’s dad, based the church the place his son taught
‘I had plenty of household stuff happening in my life,’ she mentioned. ‘My dad was a recovering alcoholic, and so I consider that Lee used these (circumstances) in opposition to me and helped make the most of me. So he would manipulate me, he would mess with my feelings.’
Lee’s father Rusty Chatfield – who based and ran the church the place his son taught – denied the claims.
He instructed the Bridge on Friday that ‘the allegations are false,’ however refused to elaborate.
However after years of silence, Rebekah lastly opened up about her alleged abuse together with her household, mates and husband in December in addition to reaching out to Lansing Police.
Lee Chatfield allegedly started assaulting the sufferer as a teen whereas she attended Northern Michigan Baptist Bible Church (pictured) and Northern Michigan Christian Academy
Pictured: Rebekah and Aaron pose for an image as Lee Chatfield lurks behind
Rebekah Chatfield, 26, says the abuse she endured started at age 15
Aaron Chatfield, 26, has additionally come ahead to publicly assist his spouse, Bridge reported.
He says whereas he was not conscious of the alleged assaults by his brother he did have suspicions years in the past about his brother’s shut conduct with Rebekah.
‘Lee portrays himself as a [traditional] household man, a conservative man who believes within the Bible and the Bible is so vital,’ mentioned Aaron, 26. ‘It could not be farther from who my man was as an individual.’
The politician’s lawyer additionally revealed that Chatfield has had a number of extramarital affairs all through the years.
‘Mr. Chatfield deeply regrets the selections he has made. It has precipitated nice ache to his spouse and household, and they’re working via this collectively,’ Chartier mentioned.
‘However he didn’t assault this lady in any method throughout their years-long grownup relationship. He intends to vigorously struggle these false claims.’