State Rep. Beau LaFave, of Iron Mountain, issued the following statement regarding the Michigan Attorney General disclosing a prior dropped grievance against former Michigan Court of Claims Judge Michael Talbot in a failed attempt to justify her anti-Catholic post on social media. Michigan State University hired Talbot to help assist the university in ensuring its Title IX hearing process complies with new federal standards.

“Our attorney general has doubled down on her disrespect of former Judge Michael Talbot’s religion by disclosing a dismissed grievance, her latest unfair attempt to tarnish his reputation. The Attorney Grievance Commission, which handles such allegations, is prevented by state court rules from discussing unfounded accusations which have been dismissed. While the attorney general technically may not be bound by the same rules as the AGC regarding the confidentiality of investigations, her disclosure of this report raises serious ethical concerns. Our attorney general broke well-established norms and policies in an attempt to cover up for her bigoted late-night anti-Catholic tweet. Our attorney general implied that Judge Talbot, who has a distinguished 40-year track record, cannot do his new job properly because of his ties to the Catholic Church. Her latest actions are despicable and beneath the Office of the Attorney General. The only reason our attorney general alluded to this dismissed and unfounded allegation was in an attempt to somehow justify her belief that Michigan State University had made a mistake by hiring a respected, Catholic judge. Judge Talbot, MSU and the people of the state of Michigan deserve a long overdue apology – not further bigotry out of Michigan’s attorney general.”

#####