(Source: MIRS.news, Published 03/06/2024) Michigan Republican Party Chair Pete Hoekstra confirmed Wednesday the lawsuit launched by the ousted former chairwoman over the former headquarters building in downtown Lansing has been dismissed.
Hoekstra told MIRS that he and the MRP’s attorney, former U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop, decided quickly that “we needed to get rid of that lawsuit” against the Michigan Republican Party Trust and Comerica Bank.
Hoekstra said the dismissal – granted with prejudice, which means it can’t be brought again – is a step toward the party doing what needs to be done.
“We’ve just had a great two weeks,” Hoekstra said, counting a former President Donald Trump rally, a fundraising dinner, an election watch party where Trump called in and a successful convention.
“It’s a great way to start the next week off with getting the lawsuit dismissed,” he added. “We’re kind of on a roll. We’re a functioning party, a functioning organization, taking care of business and getting ready to do what needs to be done to win elections this fall. I’m thrilled.”
Under then-GOP Chair Kristina Karamo’s leadership, the MRP filed the lawsuit in December against the Michigan Republican Party Trust and Comerica Bank, arguing it should have the power over its former Seymour Avenue headquarters in downtown Lansing because it was improperly transferred about 10 years ago from the GOP to the Trust, a group of former party chairs.
Karamo had hoped to sell the building to alleviate the MRP’s outstanding debts. However, the state party doesn’t own the building – the MRPT does.
In January, Karamo’s critics on the state committee held a meeting to oust her, which Karamo and her supporters ignored, instead holding their own meeting and declaring her the chair.
On Jan. 20, the MRP named Hoekstra as the new chair.
In February, a Kent County judge ruled Karamo was out as chair – a ruling she appealed.
Karamo asked the Michigan Court of Appeals to stay the trial court’s ruling, but a denial came swiftly.
