| Subject: Re: Cox / Fieger mess |
Author:
Chris
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Date Posted: 11/10/05 5:40pm
In reply to:
Chris
's message, "Re: Cox / Fieger mess" on 11/10/05 5:38pm
Cox: Fieger made threat over affair
He wanted campaign probe dropped, attorney general says
November 10, 2005
BY DAWSON BELL and L.L. BRASIER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS
In one of the most bizarre events in recent Michigan political history, Attorney General Mike Cox announced Wednesday he had an extramarital affair and accused the state's most famous attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, of threatening to expose him unless Cox dropped an investigation into Fieger's alleged violation of campaign-finance laws.
"A number of years ago, I was unfaithful to my wife, Laura," an emotional Cox said at a news conference, as his teary-eyed wife stood by his side in his Detroit office. "What I did was inexcusable and it was entirely my fault."
Cox said he told his wife about the affair in 2003, three months after he took office.
He went on to describe what he said was an attempt by Fieger and a Fieger associate to get the Attorney General's Office to drop its investigation of allegedly improper donations made by Fieger to a committee that ran attack ads against a state Supreme Court judge in the 2004 campaign.
Cox said he immediately notified Oakland County law enforcement officials about the alleged threat and said, "I will not let a bully prevent me from doing the job the people of Michigan elected me to do."
Fieger denied Cox's claims, calling them "amazingly sick."
Last month, Fieger said in a televised interview that Cox has "disgraced the office of attorney general and it will come out."
He hinted he was ready to attack Cox for personal indiscretion.
Fieger was interviewed for the "Off The Record" public TV show after he announced his intention to seek the Democratic Party's nomination to run for attorney general.
On Wednesday, Fieger issued a news release saying Cox was "making accusations against myself and others to deflect his guilt. I have been blamed for a lot of things, but this is the first time I have been blamed for another man cheating on his wife."
Cox said the alleged threat was initiated Oct. 14 by West Bloomfield attorney Lee O'Brien, who he described as a Fieger associate.
O'Brien contacted an acquaintance in the Attorney General's Office and said, "Fieger wants me to deliver a threat to your boss," Cox said.
Cox said there were follow-up meetings with O'Brien, and one in which Fieger participated.
The probe continues
Oakland County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Deborah Carley said her office was reviewing the file, transcribing tapes made of the conversations and would likely decide in a few days whether to issue warrants.
She said it was too early to speculate on what crimes might have been committed. Under Michigan law, however, a threat made as part of a demand is sometimes considered extortion, a 20-year felony.
Fieger told the Associated Press that O'Brien is not an associate. A call to O'Brien's attorney was not returned Wednesday.
The 39-year-old O'Brien has had legal trouble before.
In 2003, he was charged with sexually assaulting his housekeeper, but eventually pleaded guilty to indecent exposure, a misdemeanor, and was placed on probation.
He has also been disciplined by the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission and was once fined $800 for failing to adequately represent a client.
Cox said the affair did not involve anyone connected to his office, and that he told his wife in March 2003.
He said they have since undergone marriage counseling.
Fieger has a long history of stirring up trouble, both for himself and others, and sometimes on a personal level.
In 1998, when he was the Democratic nominee for governor, he suggested that his opponent -- then-Gov. John Engler -- was not the father of triplet daughters born to his wife, Michelle, in 1994.
More recently, he announced he would run against Cox in 2006, then sued Cox and other state officials in an attempt to block investigation of the campaign-finance allegations.
A startling scenario
However, Michigan politicians were left almost speechless by Wednesday's developments.
State Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis issued a news release calling on top Democrats to denounce Fieger. None did so immediately.
Republican Party spokesman Nate Bailey said Cox's admission of infidelity would not damage his prospects in next year's election.
"Obviously, it has some impact," Bailey said. "But he and Laura have dealt with it. People know Mike Cox and have seen the work the attorney general has done. He'll be fine."
Cox, an ambitious former assistant Wayne County prosecutor, is considered one of the party's rising stars and is often mentioned as a potential candidate for governor in 2010.
Cox spokesman Nate Jordan, reached by telephone Wednesday evening, declined to comment on the timing of the announcement.
He also declined to discuss whether Cox was considering turning over investigation of the campaign finance complaint to another office -- or even what, if any, legal procedures are available to do so -- in the aftermath of Wednesday's discussion of Fieger's alleged threat.
Contact DAWSON BELL at 313-222-6604 or dbell@freepress.com. Staff writers Frank Witsil and Kathleen Gray contributed to this report.
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