A Michigan lawmaker accused of harassing his colleague will need to be escorted by House sergeants to the House floor and his office to prevent potential violations of a personal protection order, according to a spokesperson for House Speaker Jason Wentworth.
State Rep. Steve Marino, R-Harrison Township, is legally allowed to come to the House floor for work despite a personal protection order recently granted to fellow Rep. Mari Manoogian, D-Birmingham, Wentworth spokesperson Gideon D’Assandro said.
Marino has been asked to inform House sergeants when he comes into either the Capitol or House Office Building and remain confined to his desk, in the House Republican caucus room or on his floor of the House Office Building. He will need to be escorted by a sergeant when heading to his office or the House floor “just to make sure that there’s no contact between the two,” D’Assandro said.
“He can be here for caucus meetings and votes,” D’Assandro said. “That’s what’s allowed under the law.”
Marino was not present on the House floor Tuesday for session, a decision D’Assandro said was Marino’s choice. Manoogian was present.
Related: Michigan lawmaker under investigation, accused of threatening Capitol colleague
The two lawmakers were in a relationship over a year ago that Manoogian described as “volatile.” Marino was last week removed from his committee assignments after communications between Marino and Manoogian were brought to House leadership, and an investigation by law enforcement into the situation is ongoing.
In a statement issued last week, Marino claimed the allegations are “nothing more than politically motivated character assassination.”
Text messages filed in court with Manoogian’s request for a personal protection order show Marino told her that he hoped her “car explodes on the way in” and warned her to “hide on the House floor,” according to the Associated Press.
“You’re truly the worst human being I’ve ever met. I mean that with the utmost sincerity. Just a parasite,” one of the texts read.
A statement from Manoogian’s attorney issued after the personal protection order was granted said it was issued to ensure her safety and well being and was “based on the court determining that irreparable harm was likely to occur from the delay required to effect notice.”
D’Assandro said Wentworth made the committee changes he did both because Marino and Manoogian were serving on the same committee and because he wanted to “prioritize Rep. Manoogian’s safety and peace of mind.”
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September 22, 2021 at 05:49AM
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Michigan lawmaker accused of harassing colleague can come to work, but will need escort - MLive.com
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