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George Cushingberry, Jr. is experiencing a pattern familiar to public figures in a sudden media spotlight: Daily splashes or mini-splashes of coverage create a drip, drip, drip effect of pooling problems.
To help you catch up without visiting multiple news sites, here's a summary of what's up today with the headline-making Detroit councilman.
City Inquiry Begins
Detroit News: "The city’s inspector general, James Heath, will investigate Detroit City Council President Pro Tem George Cushingberry Jr.’s interactions with police during a Tuesday night traffic stop that sources said involved alcohol and marijuana. . . . This is the first inspector general investigation involving an elected official since the office was established in 2012, officials said.
"The office was created under the new city charter to investigate claims of waste, fraud, abuse or corruption in city government on the part of elected and appointed public officials and city employees. . . . Heath is empowered to subpoena witnesses, take testimony and request documents. Heath can recommend that an official he deems guilty of misconduct be removed from office but the final decision rests with the Detroit City Council.
"Heath can also turn over his findings to the Wayne County prosecutor."
Rod Meloni Digs Into His Past
WDIV: "George Cushingberry’s days operating under the radar are over," reports business editor Rod Meloni (video below). "Just in a few hours of digging around, I have come up with some background on George Cushingberry that I know he would certainly like left in the shadows."
Here's why Meloni says "it’s clear George finds trouble pretty much wherever he goes."
- A $24-million legal malpractice case filed by a former business bankruptcy client from Midland. "Cushingberry has never even responded to this case and it’s on hold for the time being awaiting his response."
- Two state Attorney Discipline Board judgments against George for improper filings and improper estate dispositions.
- When she was attorney general, Jennifer Granholm fired Cushingberry In 2000 as the Public Administrator of Wayne County, a post that imnvolves settling the estates of people without family or a will. "While there is no specific reason given by the state, let us all remember . . . Democrats don’t fire Democrats [same goes for Republicans] without outstanding reason."
- Mike Cox, her successor as attorney general, filed criminal charges in 2005 against Cushingberry for improper campaign finance filings. The case ended up dismissed in Ingham County.
Vivid Facebook posts come from a medical pot user who says he handles social media for Cushingberry.
Council Aide Speaks Frankly
Fox 2: Richard Clement, an unpaid assistant who was the passenger when Cushingberry was ticketed Tuesday night, is interviewed by Alexis Wiley (second video below). He's a medical marijuana user who says he never leaves the home without carrying at least one joint. "[The officer] looked at what I had, and he gave it back. And I really appreciate that, Detroit police," says Clement.
"Meanwhile, Clement is working overtime posting updates to Cushingberry's Facebook page," the reporter continues. He acknowledges responding to statements that the two men had left a strip club by posting Thursday night: "We never saw a tit. Fox news is full of ___t." With a laugh, Clement tells Wiley: "You know what, yeah, I did. I did it. I did it. I'm responsible, I own it."
She asks: "Have you been posting all this stuff on this page? Why are you posting this stuff?" He replies: "Well, that's my job."
