MICHIGAN — Rep. Steve Marino vowed to destroy Rep. Mari Manoogian's life, berating her with obscenities and suggesting he hoped her car exploded on her way to work, according to text messages and other records recently filed in court.
"I'm making it my life mission to destroy you," Marino said to Manoogian in an undated text message, according to Ingham County court records.
The messages and other statements included in records Manoogian used to secure a personal protection order last week demonstrate the emotional, verbal and physical abuse the Birmingham Democrat says she endured at the hands of Marino during and after the pair engaged in a romantic relationship.
Marino, R-Harrison Township, has denied committing any misconduct, previously describing broader allegations of abuse as "insinuations made (that) are nothing more than politically motivated character assassination that I am confident will conclude as a waste of the public's time."
Mike Rataj, an attorney representing Marino, said his client had no comment and declined to address any of the allegations included in the application for the personal protection order.
"My co-counsel Mary Chartier and I will be filing a motion to set aside the PPO," Rataj said in a phone call Tuesday morning.
"We'll argue the case in open court, not in the newspaper."
The personal protection order for Manoogian was issued last week by 30th Circuit Court Judge Lisa McCormick. She did so after determining that waiting could result in irreparable harm, said Manoogian's lawyer, Kelly McClintock. The order remains in effect for one year, MCClintock said.
In the court filings, Manoogian said she dated Marino for about four months in 2019. Everything was fine initially after the relationship ended, but at the start of 2020 Marino's behavior changed. Manoogian said she believes he is mentally unstable.
"Face to face and over text, Steve began threatening me and harassing me. It has escalated to a point where I fear for my safety and for Steve's own safety," she said in a statement filed with the court.
"I am afraid of Steve. He repeatedly tells me that he hopes I get in a car crash on my commute to Lansing, and that he hopes my car will blow up...He constantly berated me with obscenities, calling me a c---, a b----, and telling me to go f--- myself."
In one text message, Marino appears to tell Manoogian to "hide on the House floor."
"Because I'm going to park right next to your desk and ream you a new a—hole each session day until I leave that place," Marino stated in a text included in court records.
Manoogian also describes an encounter in Marino's apartment that she says became physically abusive.
"Steve has emotionally and verbally abused me relentlessly. He also physically abused me. I do not like hugs, I am not a touchy-feely person. Steve knows this. He chased me around his apartment and held me against my will in a 'hug' until I cried," she stated.
Michigan State Police is investigating and House Speaker Jason Wentworth, R-Farwell, removed Marino from all of his committees assignments last week. Manoogian stated said House Minority Leader Donna Lasinski, D-Scio Township, also moved her parking space to a new location.
McClintock has said she believes the personal protection order may bar Marino from being in the same building as Manoogian. However, Marino is not banned by the speaker from going onto the House floor, and the two lawmakers have offices in the same Lansing building.
Late Monday, a Wentworth spokesman said the House Business Office, attorneys and sergeants at arms were still reviewing the protective order. The House is set to meet in session at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.
