By Pat Maurer
Correspondent
Charges against Republican Activist James Chapman of Wayne County, for allegedly kicking Republican Party Chair Mark DeYoung in the groin during an altercation at a State GOP meeting in the Doherty Hotel in July of 2023, have been dismissed by new Clare County Prosecutor Andrew Santini.
Reportedly, DeYoung asked Santini to dismiss the charges, telling the Detroit News that he “wanted to get on with my life.” He is no longer the State Chair of the Republican Party, the News article said.
It was the second time in ’23 that police were called to the hotel to subdue an altercation between Republicans. Earlier that year in June, two GOP officials, Macomb Party Secretary Melissa Pehlis and Kalamazoo Chair Kelly Sackett got into a physical altercation there.
Clare Police were called when the two county leaders got into the squabble at the meeting on April 15 at the hotel. Officers were called to investigate a “profane, physical altercation.”
In June of 2023, The Washington Post wrote that at least four county Republican committees in Michigan had been at war with each other over leadership issues, criticism of State Chair Kristina Karamo over fundraising and spending, and according to the Post, her removal of budget committee chair Matt Johnson who was openly critical of state committee spending.
The altercation between Chapman and DeYoung in July happened when Chapman was not allowed in to attend a meeting at the hotel of the state GOP committee. He allegedly was outside the committee meeting with other Republicans when DeYoung saw him trying to enter. When he opened the door, he said Chapman kicked him and knocked him into a chair.
Chapman claimed DeYoung swung at him, and admitted in a media interview that he “took DeYoung by the legs and knocked him down.” He denied doing anything wrong and denied kicking DeYoung.
Later, DeYoung told media that his rib was broken in the altercation and that Chapman’s kick injured his genitals. He filed assault charges against Chapman.
Reportedly Chapman, of Van Buren Township, has been involved in a police skirmish before. He was, according to an article on MLive, involved in a protest against Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Covid-19 shutdowns in May of 2020 at the state Capitol building in Lansing and reportedly carried a fishing pole with a naked doll hanging from the top of the pole with a cord around its neck. Reportedly he said the doll represented Gov. Whitmer. He is also a convicted felon, sentenced in 1990 for assault, put on probation for stalking in 2015, serving six months in jail in 2018 for resisting police after another assault.
Despite his record, Chapman has run for office locally and for State Representative in the 2020 election.
From the hospital, DeYoung told the Independent News World Post, “We’re so divided.” He added “I just wish we could come together.”
