Mike Cox
Encyclopedia
Mike Cox was Michigan
's 52nd Attorney General
; the first Republican
to hold that office since 1955. Cox took office in 2003 and won re-election in 2006. Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm preceded him in office.
Cox lost the Republican gubernatorial
primary election
August 3, 2010, coming in third behind Rick Snyder and Pete Hoekstra
.
in 1980. He served in the United States Marine Corps
from 1980-83. He graduated from the University of Michigan
in 1986 and earned his J.D.
from the University of Michigan Law School
in 1989. He worked for the Oakland County
Prosecutor
s' office from 1989–90, then the Wayne County
office from 1990–2002, before being elected Attorney General. Cox successfully ran for re-election in 2006, after receiving the Republican
party nomination at the August Michigan Republican Party Convention.
In 2003, Cox created a cold case unit to investigate and prosecute cold cases. Cox's team has had notable convictions including Coral Watts
, Gary Leiterman, John Rodney McRae, two brothers who killed two Oakland County hunters, two people who killed Christopher Brown, six people who murdered Janet Chandler in 1979, and most recently, Timothy Dawson who was convicted of killing his wife.
's residence (known as the Manoogian Mansion
). The Michigan State Police continued their own separate investigation.
Cox interviewed the Mayor with his chief criminal prosecutor. The police noted that Cox insisted on interviewing the former mayor alone without MSP present, because there were allegations of media leaks. State police officers have testified that they had strong leads that needed to be followed regarding the Manoogian Mansion party, that the state police believed that the Detroit Police Department was destroying evidence in the case, but "because of actions by Attorney General Mike Cox, they were powerless to stop them." A state police memo indicated that they had wanted to interview the mayor and the mayor's wife, but because the attorney general had "shut down" the investigation, the state police could not get subpoenas, medical records or witnesses cooperation. In response, Cox said that he closed the investigation after interviewing more than 130 people who stated the party never took place, and called the accusations against him "absolute bullshit". Cox explained that the focus of his investigation was whether Kilpatrick's bodyguards were being paid illegal overtime to work the party. Cox also said that the police could have "went" to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy if they wanted subpoenas. Cox stated that he closed the investigation without interviewing the alleged perpetrator of the assault because the allegations only involved a misdemeanor and the state police did not need to interview the alleged perpetrator. In addition, Cox said that newspaper reporters did not find evidence that the police did not find.
Seven years after the investigation, the party has not been proven to have occurred. However, after Cox ended the investigation, a records clerk at the police department has claimed that she saw a police report of an assault at the Manoogian Mansion. The chief of police from a nearby city alleged that he was invited to the party. A witness at a hospital claimed that an assault victim arrived for treatment with what appeared to be the then-mayor's security detail, and the witness was told by a coworker that the victim had been beaten by the mayor's wife.
A 911 dispatcher has also given testimony under oath in a civil deposition about officers who were dispatched to the Mansion regarding a disturbance. She said she was told by responding officers that Cox was present at the party. Mike Cox denied the accusation in a TV interview. More recently, a woman who alleges that she also danced at the Manogian Mansion party has come forward and has sworn under oath that not only did the party indeed happen, but also that she witnessed an assault by the former Mayor's wife on Tamara Greene at the party. She also has alleged that several Detroit police officers were guests at the party.
ruled that adultery
could be prosecuted as first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a resulting life in prison sentence. This unanimous decision was reached as a result of an appeal sought by Cox's office on a drug case that touched in part on this strange loophole in the law. In November 2005, Cox himself admitted to committing adultery while accusing Oakland County
lawyer Geoffrey Fieger
of blackmail, claiming that he threatened to reveal the affair if Cox did not drop an investigation into Fieger's alleged campaign finance violations. Cox said his personal conduct was "inexcusable" and had reconciled with his wife.
Pursuant to MCL 750.31, however, only Cox himself, his wife, or parties to the marriage (if any) of the co-adulterer or adulterers with whom he committed felonies may pursue a complaint for prosecution of felony adultery. Cox did not recuse himself from the decision to file a complaint for prosecution of his adultery notwithstanding the apparent conflict of interest.
after its passage. Critics contended that this action was a political move because Cox was running for governor. Timothy Stoltzfus Jost, a professor of law at the Washington and Lee University, has criticized this unusual move as being not only "frivolous" but a waste of tax payers' dollars.
targeting University of Michigan
Student-Body President, Chris Armstrong. Shirvell's blog, Chris Armstrong Watch, published nearly 30 entries, including ones calling the Michigan student "nazi like", a recruiter for "the cult that is homosexuality", and a proponent of a "racist, anti-Christian agenda". Shirvell also admitted that he pickets the student's speaking events and follows his activity on the social-networking site Facebook
. The story was picked up by several nationally recognized gay-rights blogs and, by September 2010, drew nationwide media attention to the State of Michigan Attorney General's office.
Shirvell was "banned" from the University of Michigan campus on September 14, but the ban was modified by November to prohibit only physical or verbal contact with Chris Armstrong. On September 30, it was reported that Armstrong was seeking a restraining order
against Shirvell. The following day, Shirvell was reportedly taking a voluntary leave of absence. On October 25, 2010, AnnArbor.com reported that Chris Armstrong had dropped his restraining order request.
Cox initially defended Shirvell's right to engage in free speech activities, even though Cox stated that Shirvell was a bully, immature, and showed a "lack of judgment." On November 8, 2010, Cox fired Shirvell for having "repeatedly violated office policies, engaged in borderline stalking behavior, and [having] inappropriately used state resources." Cox said that Shirvell lied to investigators "on several occasions during his disciplinary hearing." Shirvell was not charged with stalking, but Cox said that Shirvell behaved in a way that "was harassing, uninvited and showed a pattern that was, in the everyday sense, stalking." He cited examples such as Shirvell calling the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi where Armstrong worked "in an attempt to slander Armstrong" and get him fired, trying to "out" Armstrong's friends as homosexual, and harassing Armstrong's friends while out socializing in Ann Arbor; Shirvell called Pelosi's office and posted some of his online blog comments on Armstrong while he was on the job as an assistant attorney general.
nominee in 2006, Dick DeVos
, announced in November 2008 that he was not going to seek the GOP nomination in 2010. In March 2009, the Detroit Free Press reported that Cox led the likely Democratic challenger at the time, Lt. Governor John D. Cherry
, by 41-34%. Cherry later decided not to run.
On May 27, 2009, Cox formally announced his candidacy for governor on Facebook and Twitter.
Local and national polling indicated in March 2010 that Cox was one of the front-runners for the Republican nomination, potentially defeating his potential Democratic opponents in the 2010 gubernatorial election by comfortable margins in hypothetical match-ups.
Cox finished third in the Republican gubernatorial primary, behind businessman Rick Snyder and Congressman
Pete Hoekstra
.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
's 52nd Attorney General
Michigan Attorney General
The Attorney General of Michigan is the fourth-ranking official in the U.S. state of Michigan and one of four great offices of state. The officeholder is elected statewide in the November general election alongside the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, members of the Senate and...
; the first Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to hold that office since 1955. Cox took office in 2003 and won re-election in 2006. Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm preceded him in office.
Cox lost the Republican gubernatorial
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
August 3, 2010, coming in third behind Rick Snyder and Pete Hoekstra
Pete Hoekstra
Peter "Pete" Hoekstra is a former Republican U.S. Representative for who served in the House from 1993 until 2011. He was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Michigan in 2010 and is expected to run for the United States Senate against Debbie Stabenow in 2012.-Early life and education:Born...
.
Background
Cox graduated from Detroit Catholic Central High SchoolDetroit Catholic Central High School
Detroit Catholic Central High School is a private, Catholic, all-male, college preparatory high school in Novi, Michigan. Founded in 1928 in Detroit, Michigan by the Archdiocese of Detroit, the school is operated by the Congregation of St. Basil...
in 1980. He served in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
from 1980-83. He graduated from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1986 and earned his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
in 1989. He worked for the Oakland County
Oakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
Prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
s' office from 1989–90, then the Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
office from 1990–2002, before being elected Attorney General. Cox successfully ran for re-election in 2006, after receiving the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
party nomination at the August Michigan Republican Party Convention.
Attorney General
As attorney general, Cox took a prominent role in taking on Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM). Cox has opposed BCBSM supported bills and challenged BCBSM in court for the alleged transfer of nonprofit funds to purchase a for-profit company.In 2003, Cox created a cold case unit to investigate and prosecute cold cases. Cox's team has had notable convictions including Coral Watts
Coral Eugene Watts
Carl Eugene Watts , also known by his nickname Coral, was an American serial killer dubbed "The Sunday Morning Slasher"...
, Gary Leiterman, John Rodney McRae, two brothers who killed two Oakland County hunters, two people who killed Christopher Brown, six people who murdered Janet Chandler in 1979, and most recently, Timothy Dawson who was convicted of killing his wife.
Detroit Mayor's Mansion party
Cox played a role in aftermath of the Detroit Mayor Mansion party where strippers were alleged to have been present and allegedly assaulted; one dancer was murdered shortly after. Citing no evidence, no proof, and no witnesses, Cox declined to offer a subpoena, effectively closing an investigation by the State of Michigan into allegations of a "wild party" at Detroit Mayor Kwame KilpatrickKwame Kilpatrick
Kwame Malik Kilpatrick is a former mayor of Detroit, Michigan. Kilpatrick's mayorship was plagued by numerous scandals and rampant accusations of corruption, with the mayor eventually resigning after being charged with ten felony counts, including perjury and obstruction of justice...
's residence (known as the Manoogian Mansion
Manoogian Mansion
The Manoogian Mansion is the official residence of the mayor of Detroit, Michigan. It is located at 9240 Dwight Street in the Berry Subdivision Historic District, on the city's east side, backing up to the Detroit River. It was built in 1928 for $300,000, but the owner lost the home during the...
). The Michigan State Police continued their own separate investigation.
Cox interviewed the Mayor with his chief criminal prosecutor. The police noted that Cox insisted on interviewing the former mayor alone without MSP present, because there were allegations of media leaks. State police officers have testified that they had strong leads that needed to be followed regarding the Manoogian Mansion party, that the state police believed that the Detroit Police Department was destroying evidence in the case, but "because of actions by Attorney General Mike Cox, they were powerless to stop them." A state police memo indicated that they had wanted to interview the mayor and the mayor's wife, but because the attorney general had "shut down" the investigation, the state police could not get subpoenas, medical records or witnesses cooperation. In response, Cox said that he closed the investigation after interviewing more than 130 people who stated the party never took place, and called the accusations against him "absolute bullshit". Cox explained that the focus of his investigation was whether Kilpatrick's bodyguards were being paid illegal overtime to work the party. Cox also said that the police could have "went" to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy if they wanted subpoenas. Cox stated that he closed the investigation without interviewing the alleged perpetrator of the assault because the allegations only involved a misdemeanor and the state police did not need to interview the alleged perpetrator. In addition, Cox said that newspaper reporters did not find evidence that the police did not find.
Seven years after the investigation, the party has not been proven to have occurred. However, after Cox ended the investigation, a records clerk at the police department has claimed that she saw a police report of an assault at the Manoogian Mansion. The chief of police from a nearby city alleged that he was invited to the party. A witness at a hospital claimed that an assault victim arrived for treatment with what appeared to be the then-mayor's security detail, and the witness was told by a coworker that the victim had been beaten by the mayor's wife.
A 911 dispatcher has also given testimony under oath in a civil deposition about officers who were dispatched to the Mansion regarding a disturbance. She said she was told by responding officers that Cox was present at the party. Mike Cox denied the accusation in a TV interview. More recently, a woman who alleges that she also danced at the Manogian Mansion party has come forward and has sworn under oath that not only did the party indeed happen, but also that she witnessed an assault by the former Mayor's wife on Tamara Greene at the party. She also has alleged that several Detroit police officers were guests at the party.
Adultery law
Cox received nationwide press in 2007 when the Michigan Court of AppealsMichigan Court of Appeals
The Michigan Court of Appeals is the intermediate-level appellate court of the state of Michigan. It was created by the Michigan Constitution of 1963, and commenced operations in 1965...
ruled that adultery
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
could be prosecuted as first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a resulting life in prison sentence. This unanimous decision was reached as a result of an appeal sought by Cox's office on a drug case that touched in part on this strange loophole in the law. In November 2005, Cox himself admitted to committing adultery while accusing Oakland County
Oakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
lawyer Geoffrey Fieger
Geoffrey Fieger
Geoffrey Fieger is an American attorney based in Southfield, Michigan. Fieger is the senior partner at the law firm of Fieger, Fieger, Kenney, Johnson & Giroux and is an occasional legal commentator for NBC and MSNBC...
of blackmail, claiming that he threatened to reveal the affair if Cox did not drop an investigation into Fieger's alleged campaign finance violations. Cox said his personal conduct was "inexcusable" and had reconciled with his wife.
Pursuant to MCL 750.31, however, only Cox himself, his wife, or parties to the marriage (if any) of the co-adulterer or adulterers with whom he committed felonies may pursue a complaint for prosecution of felony adultery. Cox did not recuse himself from the decision to file a complaint for prosecution of his adultery notwithstanding the apparent conflict of interest.
Health care
Cox joined nineteen other state attorneys general, all but one being Republican, in challenging the Patient Protection and Affordable Care ActPatient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
after its passage. Critics contended that this action was a political move because Cox was running for governor. Timothy Stoltzfus Jost, a professor of law at the Washington and Lee University, has criticized this unusual move as being not only "frivolous" but a waste of tax payers' dollars.
Assistant Attorney General controversy
In 2010, Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell began publishing a blogBlog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
targeting University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
Student-Body President, Chris Armstrong. Shirvell's blog, Chris Armstrong Watch, published nearly 30 entries, including ones calling the Michigan student "nazi like", a recruiter for "the cult that is homosexuality", and a proponent of a "racist, anti-Christian agenda". Shirvell also admitted that he pickets the student's speaking events and follows his activity on the social-networking site Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
. The story was picked up by several nationally recognized gay-rights blogs and, by September 2010, drew nationwide media attention to the State of Michigan Attorney General's office.
Shirvell was "banned" from the University of Michigan campus on September 14, but the ban was modified by November to prohibit only physical or verbal contact with Chris Armstrong. On September 30, it was reported that Armstrong was seeking a restraining order
Restraining order
A restraining order or order of protection is a form of legal injunction that requires a party to do, or to refrain from doing, certain acts. A party that refuses to comply with an order faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
against Shirvell. The following day, Shirvell was reportedly taking a voluntary leave of absence. On October 25, 2010, AnnArbor.com reported that Chris Armstrong had dropped his restraining order request.
Cox initially defended Shirvell's right to engage in free speech activities, even though Cox stated that Shirvell was a bully, immature, and showed a "lack of judgment." On November 8, 2010, Cox fired Shirvell for having "repeatedly violated office policies, engaged in borderline stalking behavior, and [having] inappropriately used state resources." Cox said that Shirvell lied to investigators "on several occasions during his disciplinary hearing." Shirvell was not charged with stalking, but Cox said that Shirvell behaved in a way that "was harassing, uninvited and showed a pattern that was, in the everyday sense, stalking." He cited examples such as Shirvell calling the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi where Armstrong worked "in an attempt to slander Armstrong" and get him fired, trying to "out" Armstrong's friends as homosexual, and harassing Armstrong's friends while out socializing in Ann Arbor; Shirvell called Pelosi's office and posted some of his online blog comments on Armstrong while he was on the job as an assistant attorney general.
2010 campaign for governor
Cox filed paperwork to explore a bid for governor in 2008, and was the first person to form an exploratory committee. The RepublicanMichigan Republican Party
The Michigan Republican Party is the state affiliate of the national Republican Party in Michigan. It is sometimes referred to as MIGOP, which simply means Michigan Grand Old Party....
nominee in 2006, Dick DeVos
Dick DeVos
Dick DeVos is a businessman and Republican politician from Michigan. The son of billionaire Amway co-founder Richard DeVos, he served as CEO of the multi-level marketing consumer goods distribution company from 1993–2002...
, announced in November 2008 that he was not going to seek the GOP nomination in 2010. In March 2009, the Detroit Free Press reported that Cox led the likely Democratic challenger at the time, Lt. Governor John D. Cherry
John D. Cherry
John D. Cherry was the 60th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan of the U.S. state of Michigan from 2003 to 2011. Cherry served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Midwestern Higher Education Compact, and was the immediate past chair of the international Great Lakes Commission .Cherry was an announced...
, by 41-34%. Cherry later decided not to run.
On May 27, 2009, Cox formally announced his candidacy for governor on Facebook and Twitter.
Local and national polling indicated in March 2010 that Cox was one of the front-runners for the Republican nomination, potentially defeating his potential Democratic opponents in the 2010 gubernatorial election by comfortable margins in hypothetical match-ups.
Cox finished third in the Republican gubernatorial primary, behind businessman Rick Snyder and Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Pete Hoekstra
Pete Hoekstra
Peter "Pete" Hoekstra is a former Republican U.S. Representative for who served in the House from 1993 until 2011. He was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Michigan in 2010 and is expected to run for the United States Senate against Debbie Stabenow in 2012.-Early life and education:Born...
.