TEXTS TELL THE STORY
In early December, Ingham County Circuit Judge Lisa McCormick terminated the personal protection order (PPO) state Rep. Mari Manoogian (D-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township) had obtained against fellow state Rep. Steven Marino (R-Harrison Township) after a love affair went south, and she alleged he harassed and threatened her with text messages. Manoogian, who said she is not commenting, has said she was afraid of Marino following their breakup, pointing to texts where he said he hoped “her car explodes,” called her expletives, and wrote it would be his “life’s mission” to destroy her. Sounds frightening. Problem McCormick said she had with the over 8,000 text messages between the two were that both “often engaged in offensive, and sometimes violent, vulgar language when talking with each other and discussing other individuals, including co-workers.” Word around town is that some of that offensive language by Manoogian included dissing the governor, attorney general and other top Democrats, which one in leadership said, “showed her age (29). She screwed up. She is done.” Unknown if voters in her district, where she has overwhelmingly prevailed in her past two elections, will agree – or remember – next November.