CCP Gotion Vice President Chuck Thelen dug up the divorce records of one of his company’s leading critic, according to text messages, in an apparent attempt to smear her reputation.
Thelen is the American representative for Gotion Inc., the wholly-owned subsidiary of Gotion High-tech, a Hefei, China-based company with admitted links to the Chinese Communist Party.
CCP Gotion is attempting to build a one sq. mile facility in the rural township with the assistance of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration and $715 million in Michigan taxpayer dollars.
In September 2023 text messages obtained by The Midwesterner between Thelen and then-Green Charter Township Supervisor Jim Chapman, Thelen told Chapman he visited the Mecosta County courthouse to obtain the divorce records of Lori Brock, a horse farm owner who has been one of the leading opponents.
“So I took your high sign and shut up about Lori getting arrested,” Chapman wrote to Thelen on September 2, 2023 at 12:19 p.m. “Tell me you’ve arranged for karma to bite her.”
“I stopped by the county,” Thelen responded less than an hour later. “The divorce papers are about 2000 (pages) long. Going back Tuesday with some helpers to sort through it.”
Brock’s divorce was finalized in 2013.
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The Midwesterner asked CCP Gotion’s public relations firm, Truscott Rossman, about what Thelen intended to do with Brock’s divorce records and how they were relevant to the proposed battery plant project.
“I believe you’re referencing documents in a lawsuit between Gotion and the Green Charter Township Board, and Gotion does not comment on ongoing legal matters,” Truscott Rossman Director of Public Affairs John Whetstone told The Midwesterner.
Two days later, on September 4, 2023, Thelen and Chapman brought up Brock again, with Thelen referring to her as a “skank.”
“I just bought 2500 in tires to (Big Rapids) Tire and they were very nice to me,” Thelen wrote. “No idea if they know what I do or anything but was a good experience.”
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“BR Tire is Steve Vrixk (sp?)…Lori’s ex,” Chapman responded, misspelling Brock and then correcting himself.
“Smart man to bail out on that skank,” Thelen said back.
“Yup,” Chapman replied.
The text messages are a part of the lawsuit involving CCP Gotion and Green Charter Township.
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“This evidence clearly demonstrates that the VP of Gotion Chuck Thelen, and the former Township Supervisor Chapman led an effort to personally intimidate me for opposing this project,” Brock told The Midwesterner. “This behavior crossed the line, and Mr. Thelen can no longer represent them with any credibility, he should be fired, and this project should be ended once and for all.”