Rep. Friske investigated on gun, sex assault allegations, Ingham Co. Prosecutor says
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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — A day and a half after Lansing police arrested Michigan Representative Neil Friske (R-107th Dist.), the Ingham County Prosecutor confirms police are also investigating a claim of sexual assault related to this arrest.
Police were dispatched to the 2100 block of Forest Rd near Aurelius Rd, around 2:45 a.m. Thursday where they were told a man had a gun and shots had been fired.
When Lansing Police officers arrived they said they found “all the parties involved,” but at this time, they are only naming Friske. Earlier Thursday, police said they arrested Friske on the 2000 block of Windbreak Lane.
“During the course of the initial investigation, law enforcement officers learned of a possible sexual assault of an adult female and they arrested a 62-year old male, Kornelius [Neil] Friske,” Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney John Dewane told 6 News. “The Lansing Police Department submitted a warrant request to our office on June 21, 2024, after a review of the initial investigation, I have asked the Lansing Police Department to continue their investigation. Our office will continue to work in coordination with law enforcement on this matter.”
According to a police request for a warrant obtained by 6 News, police asked the Ingham County prosecutor to file three felony charges. The requested charges are Sexual Assault, Assault Excluding Sexual and Weapons Offense.
The warrant requests mirror radio communications from early Thursday morning.
“Caller states there is a male with a gun threatening to shoot her and that he tried to rape her,” the radio dispatch from Broadcastify reveals.
In addition, radio traffic from the incident identifies Friske as the owner of a Ford Explorer at the scene.
Radio traffic also reveal police sought to verify he had a current conceal pistol license, CPL.
“Representative Friske was released from custody without being charged with a crime,” Edwar Zeineh, Rep. Friske’s lawyer told 6 News. “Representative Friske has faith in God, America’s Constitution, and the right it affords to citizens, including due process, presumption of innocence, and the right to counsel. We look forward to the accurate facts vindicating Representative Friske.”
Friske was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in November 2022. He represents the 107th House District in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. The district includes all of Charlevoix and Emmet counties and portions of Cheboygan, Chippewa, and Mackinac Counties.
Friske’s father, Richard Friske, flew for the Luftwaffe — the Third Reich’s air force — during World War II, reports the New York Times. The father also served as an organizer for the George Wallace for President campaign in 1968 and was a member of the John Birch Society. During his tenure in the Michigan Legislature, he advocated for legislation to limit the birth rate of poor people, particularly those on government assistance, the NYT reported.
The elder Friske in 1996 and 1999 made a total of $1,500 in donations to former lawmaker and white nationalist David Duke, reports OpenSecrets.com.
This district was represented by former Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) who is facing his own criminal issues stemming from his time in office.
As a representative, Neil Friske has voted against allowing violent offenders to have access to mental health or substance abuse courts as well as voted against legislation to criminalize deep fake pornography, reports BillTrack50.com — which drives its data from the state legislature.
On Friske’s re-election Facebook page, the following statement was posted shortly after noon Thursday:
This morning, it was brought to our attention that Representative Friske was arrested and being held. As many of us know, Rep Friske is always exercising his 2nd Amendment right. We do not have any details, besides what the media sourced, oddly before anyone of us knew anything.
It is highly suspect considering the timing of this situation:-Right before absentee ballots are released.
-Day after an unknown phone number conducted polling on the 107 race between Rep. Friske and our opponent with deep-state ties.
We ask everyone for prayers and to stay tuned for updates directly from this campaign or Representative Friske himself.
Thank you for the outpouring of concern and unwavering support we have received this morning. Clearly, Rep. Friske is over the target in this race.
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