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Federal prosecutor faces misdemeanor assault charge in incident with mom

Posted at 6:57 PM, May 16, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-16 18:57:44-04

A high-profile federal prosecutor who helped put Detroit’s former mayor behind bars is facing criminal charges of his own tonight. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Bullotta appeared in court today – but this time, it was as a defendant. He’s charged with misdemeanor domestic assault and battery after a recent incident with his mother.

Bullotta is accused of assaulting his 78-year-old mother in April, but family members have given conflicting accounts of what happened between Bullotta and his mother.

Oakland County Sheriff’s officials say they did not arrest him at the time of the incident, and he was never identified as a federal prosecutor when they were called to his home in Oakland Township.

Deputies took the report and submitted their findings to the Oakland County Prosecutor.

Sheriff’s officials say no one knew he was an assistant US attorney until after the warrant was issued.

Bullotta was in court today for a pretrial hearing. His trial is scheduled for July.

Bullotta is still on the job, and is leading the corruption probe in Macomb County.

Acting United States Attorney Daniel Lemisch said, “We have faith that the system will produce a just outcome.  In the meantime, we have the utmost confidence in Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Bullotta’s ability to carry out the important work of the office.”

The 7 Investigators have learned though that Bullotta’s mother told Sheriff’s deputies that she did not want to press charges.

“It’s truly unfortunate that Michael’s continual willingness to provide care for his elderly mother has resulted in an unfounded misdemeanor charge,” said Bullotta’s lawyer Pamella Szydlak.  “Michael believes with all his heart in the American criminal justice system, one that he has spent his life selflessly serving.   He knows he will be exonerated and prays more that his family will be repaired.”