Michigan House Oversight Committee Probes Attorney General's Office Over Ethics Concerns

Allegations of insurance fraud and embezzlement by a former Nessel transition team member spark heated hearings.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 5:15pm

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The Michigan House Oversight Committee is holding hearings investigating alleged ethics violations by the state Attorney General's office, including claims of insurance fraud and embezzlement involving a former transition team member. Committee chair Rep. Jay DeBoyer has accused the Attorney General's office of being "either wholly incompetent or it is corrupt", while the AG's office denies wrongdoing and says the committee is conflating separate investigations.

Why it matters

The hearings highlight ongoing political tensions between the Republican-controlled legislature and the Democratic Attorney General, and raise questions about the integrity and transparency of the state's top law enforcement agency.

The details

The hearings center on allegations against Traci Kornak, a lawyer and former treasurer of the Michigan Democratic Party who served on Attorney General Dana Nessel's transition team. Kornak was accused of insurance fraud and embezzlement while serving as a conservator for an elderly woman in Kent County. The Attorney General's office closed its investigation into Kornak in 2022, but the House Oversight Committee claims the office did not adequately pursue the case.

  • The House Oversight Committee held its first hearing on the ethics concerns in December 2025.
  • The committee is now holding a second hearing on the matter on January 27, 2026.

The players

Rep. Jay DeBoyer

The Republican chair of the Michigan House Oversight Committee, who has accused the Attorney General's office of incompetence or corruption.

Dana Nessel

The Democratic Attorney General of Michigan, whose office is being investigated by the House Oversight Committee.

Traci Kornak

A lawyer and former treasurer of the Michigan Democratic Party who served on Nessel's transition team, and is accused of insurance fraud and embezzlement while serving as a conservator.

Catherine Edwards

A staff attorney for the House legal team, who testified about the Attorney General's office's handling of the Kornak case.

Kimberly Bush

A spokesperson for the Attorney General's office, who denied the committee's allegations of wrongdoing.

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What they’re saying

“The Attorney General's office told adult protective services that it should not help a vulnerable adult despite the results of a two year investigation and the conclusion that the vulnerable adult was the victim of financial exploitation.”

— Catherine Edwards, Staff attorney, House legal team

“They're the number one law enforcement agency in the state, yet a probate court and Adult Protective Services and the Kent County Sheriff has done a more extensive, more thorough, more in depth investigation.”

— Rep. Jay DeBoyer, Chair, House Oversight Committee

“Do we have other evidence that these two are somehow best friends, or she's been donating huge amounts to her campaign, or is it just based on this transition team connection?”

— Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou, Member, House Oversight Committee

What’s next

The House Oversight Committee has indicated that it may call attorneys from the Attorney General's office to testify in future hearings on this matter.

The takeaway

The heated hearings highlight the ongoing political tensions between the Republican-controlled legislature and the Democratic Attorney General, and raise serious questions about the integrity and transparency of the state's top law enforcement agency.