Dana's Dispatch: LGBTQ+ Civil Rights, Prosecuting Sexual Predators, Preventing Elder Abuse & More!

--------------------------------------------------------------- AG Dana Nessel Spearheads a New Victory for LGBTQ+ Michiganders Our residents deserve to live in a state that recognizes the value of diversity and rejects the notion that our own civil rights law could be used as a tool of discrimination. This ruling is not only a victory for the LGBTQ+ community, but for all Michigan residents, and one that’s long overdue. [READ MORE]( Dana Nessel, Dana Nessel on Facebook (July 28, 2022) AG Dana Nessel Spearheads a New Victory for LGBTQ+ Michiganders Retrieved from: [AG Dana Nessel Spearheads a New Victory for LGBTQ+ Michiganders]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Michigan Supreme Court LGBTQ+ ruling celebrated by queer community This Michigan Supreme Court ruling, which cements LGBTQ+ civil rights protections under the law, means that every MI resident can feel comfortable being who they are, and being so publicly without fear that they may lose their job or their housing. As confusion and uncertainty remain on the legality of abortion in Michigan, Attorney General Dana Nessel held a press event Tuesday spotlighting rural communities. The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that LGBTQ+ people are protected from discrimination under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. The Supreme Court’s decision Thursday made clear the word “sex” in Michigan’s civil rights law applies to sexual orientation, not just gender. The 5-2 ruling included one Republican justice. It means members of the LGBTQ+ community can no longer be denied housing, fired from a job, or denied service by a business in Michigan simply for a person’s sexual orientation. Attorney General Dana Nessel, who argued the case, weighed in on the ruling. “It means that people can feel confident in being who they are and being so publicly and not have to worry about having their job threatened or their housing situation threatened,” Nessel said. For her, the issue is also personal. “Up until yesterday I could still walk into a diner and be told they won’t serve me or my family,” said Nessel. She said the queer community is just like everyone else. “We’re law-abiding members of the community like anybody else. We just want to have all the same opportunities. And now we do,” Nessel said. [READ MORE]( Mike Duffy, WXYZ Detroit (July 29, 2022) Michigan Supreme Court LGBTQ+ ruling celebrated by queer community Retrieved from: [Michigan Supreme Court LGBTQ+ ruling celebrated by queer community]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Big Lie Booster Matt DePerno Disregards the Will of the Voters MI needs an Attorney General like Dana Nessel to uphold the will of the voters. NOT a Big Lie booster like DePerno, beholden to Trump. [READ MORE]( Dana Nessel, Dana Nessel on Facebook (July 25, 2022) Big Lie Booster Matt DePerno Disregards the Will of the Voters Retrieved from: [Big Lie Booster Matt DePerno Disregards the Will of the Voters]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Michigan Court Rules in Favor of Minimum Wage Hike Today I joined One Fair Wage Action to discuss the latest victory setting a living minimum wage for MI. Michiganders shouldn't need 3 jobs to put food on the table or pay their bills. Wages must be on par with inflation. This is a win for MI's economy. [READ MORE]( Dana Nessel, Dana Nessel on Facebook (July 26, 2022) Michigan Court Rules in Favor of Minimum Wage Hike Retrieved from: [Michigan Court Rules in Favor of Minimum Wage Hike]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Former Shelby Township priest sentenced to 15 years in prison for sex abuse While Republicans are recklessly labeling law abiding members of the LGBT community “groomers,” my department is prosecuting & convicting REAL rapists & pedophiles. This involves a 1984 case where the defendant is believed to have assaulted multiple young boys. No one acted until now. A former Shelby Township priest has been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison for sex abuse. According to the Michigan Department of Attorney General, 67-year-old Neil Kalina was a priest at St. Kiernan Catholic Church from 1982-1985. He was first charged in May 2019 and arrested in Littlerock, California. Kalina was convicted on two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct in Macomb County Circuit Court in June. The jury was also presented first-degree criminal sexual conduct. However, he was found not guilty to that charge. Kalina’s conviction is part of Nessel’s investigation into clergy abuse. Tips can be sent on the Michigan Department of Attorney General website or calling (844)-324-3374. [READ MORE]( Fox 17, Fox 17 (July 26, 2022) Former Shelby Township priest sentenced to 15 years in prison for sex abuse Retrieved from: [Former Shelby Township priest sentenced to 15 years in prison for sex abuse]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Michigan Attorney General announces new tool for combating elder abuse This new tool will allow nursing home employees to report suspected embezzlement & financial exploitation. The safety & security of nursing home residents is a top priority for my office, & we look forward to working with the long-term care community to root out suspected abuse. Photo courtesy of MI Department of Attorney General on Twitter A new system created by the Michigan Department of the Attorney General aims to provide better protections for vulnerable adults in nursing homes. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Wednesday the State has launched a new complaint system that creates a direct line between the Department and facility administrators who may notice warning signs of financial exploitation. The new system is now live. With it, nursing home administrators will provide information directly to the Department’s Health Care Fraud Division for follow up and investigation. In cases where concerned staff knows or has reason to believe that someone is using a nursing home resident’s assets or benefits for purposes other than the care, needs and wishes of the resident, a complaint may be filed online. The complaint system is accessed directly through the Department’s website. Existing methods of reporting elder abuse remain in effect, including the Attorney General’s hotline. Members of the general public may make a complaint regarding nursing home abuse to by calling 1-800-24-ABUSE. 75% of the Department of Attorney General’s Health Care Fraud Division funding is received from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $4,846,440 for federal fiscal year 2022. The remaining 25%, totaling $1,615,478, is funded by the State of Michigan. [READ MORE]( Jake Draugelis, WILX (July 27, 2022) Michigan Attorney General announces new tool for combating elder abuse Retrieved from: [Michigan Attorney General announces new tool for combating elder abuse]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Ex-'King of Craigslist' back in jail facing 6 new felonies My Financial Crimes Division will not tolerate the scams of bad actors who exploit hardworking people — especially not repeat offenders. We will continue to fight for residents who are cheated out of their hard earned money & pursue accountability for the bad actors. The self-proclaimed "King of Craigslist" is once again behind bars. Denny DiCapo specialized in placing ads that lured investors. He's been in the Hall of Shame before. DiCapo stayed out of trouble for a few years, but now Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is charging him with several felonies including racketeering. There's a new mugshot for a Hall of Shamer who appears to be pulling the same old scams. DiCapo is locked up in the Oakland County Jail facing six new felony charges one of which carries a 20-year prison sentence. Last week, AG Dana Nessel’s office charged Denny with five counts of larceny by conversion and one count of conducting a criminal enterprise - a 20-year felony. DiCapo is accused of tricking victims to pay him deposits to buy businesses and then keeping the money when the deals fell through. Denny DiCapo is currently being held at the Oakland County Jail. His bond is $100,000. [READ MORE]( Rob Wolchek & David Komer, Fox 2 Detroit (July 27, 2022) Ex-'King of Craigslist' back in jail facing 6 new felonies Retrieved from: [Ex-'King of Craigslist' back in jail facing 6 new felonies]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Charlotte Mich. man sentenced for calling in bomb threat at State Capitol Threatening the lives and safety of our elected officials and innocent bystanders is deplorable. We treat every instance as a serious threat and will prosecute those who perpetrate such crimes to the fullest extent of the law. A Charlotte man has been sentenced to serve a year in the Ingham County Jail for calling in a bomb threat at the Michigan Capitol, according to Attorney General Dana Nessel. Michael Varrone, 49, was charged in January with two counts of false report or threat of terrorism and one count of false report or threat of bomb/harmful device. Varrone pled guilty last month to false report or threat of bomb/harmful device, the AG's Office stated. On December 12, 2020, Varrone called the Michigan House of Reps. six times and on at least once occasion threatened the life of Rep. Cynthia Johnson and her family members, according to a complaint. ​​"If there is one more threat by a democratic person in Michigan that's supposed to represent me, I will personally come down there and take over the [EXPLICIT] building at the Capitol," Varrone said in a voicemail. "If I'm threatened by another Senator or anybody like Cynthia Johnson, I'll personally take care of that [EXPLICIT] and their whole [EXPLICIT] family, there'll be no Johnson's left in Michigan.” On January 7, 2021, Varrone telephoned a control operator at the Capitol and "said everyone needed to evacuate because the Capitol was going to explode," the AG's Office stated. Authorities investigated and determined there was no credible threat. [READ MORE]( Brandon Chew, Up North Live (July 27, 2022) Charlotte Mich. man sentenced for calling in bomb threat at State Capitol Retrieved from: [Charlotte Mich. man sentenced for calling in bomb threat at State Capitol]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for being a part of Dana's re-election campaign! Sending emails is a crucial way to keep supporters like you updated on Dana's fight for justice and progress. Plus, this campaign is fueled by grassroots supporters like you! [Will you chip in today to join Dana in the fight for a better tomorrow?]( [CHIP IN TO RE-ELECT DANA NESSEL >>]( KEEP IN TOUCH WITH DANA: Any donor history information in this email reflects what we have on file for this specific email address. If you have donated with a different email address, with a check, or with a spouse – thank you so much. We have that on file and cannot thank you enough for your support. Paid for by Friends of Dana Nessel Friends of Dana Nessel P.O. Box 11141 Lansing, MI 48901 United States This email was sent to: {EMAIL}. [unsubscribe](