Eli Savit steps into role of Michigan Attorney General

I am Brandon Hudson. We're going to not waste any time because our next guest is tight on time. It's. Attorney General Elect, Ellie Savick. Welcome. How are you doing? I'm good. I'm good. Thank you so much for having me. Welcome. Welcome. Congratulations. Thank you. What have the last 48 hours been like for you? Well, it's been a whirlwind. Obviously, we were waiting up late like so many folks on election night. We felt good throughout the evening, but we finally got that last batch of votes in. And it was clear that we had won that. Democrats had won all these statewide positions, of course, Abdul El-Sayed winning the Senate seat, as well as, you know, several congressional seats flipping and a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives. So since then, it's been just all about starting to work on this transition, working with Dana Nessel's office to make sure that we're doing everything we can to ensure smooth administration of justice for Michiganders. Look, I know that there's a period where you can celebrate and kind of... Relish in the work that you put in, that it has paid off. But where do you straddle that line of, all right, this has been great. It's time to get to work. Oh, the work starts now. We have already started to work on the transition process. And the important thing when you win an election is remember what you ran to do. It's not about winning. It's about what you do once you get there. And so the work has already started, and it's going to continue now through when I ultimately get sworn into office. I want to ask you about the connection you have with... Abdul El-Sayed and Garland Gilchrist, all three of you guys worked with the City of Detroit around the same time 10 years ago to see yourself and two of your colleagues in the positions that you guys are in. First of all, what did that say about the City of Detroit's office to have you three on staff and look at you guys now? Well, look, we obviously had a tremendous group of folks at the city of Detroit, and what I think really united Abdul and Garland and I is we all came to the city because we wanted to do government service. We wanted to make a difference, and working for the city at that point felt like the best way that we could accomplish that. You know, Garland was in the IT department, and Abdul was the health director, and I was legal counsel, but All of us were united, despite our disparate backgrounds, by desire to serve. And I think that's what you're going to see from all of us in our respective elected positions. Look, there's two things about your background that really stood out. One, you've worked with two Supreme Court justices, Sandra Day O'Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. What did you learn from them that can really help you in this attorney general position? Well, so from Justice O'Connor, I'll say this. She was somebody that really believed that justice needs to satisfy the appearance of justice, that our laws have to feel right to people, and it's important that people feel like they're getting a fair shake in the justice system. And that's something you saw throughout her career. Justice Ginsburg was somebody that, you know, I've always admired how she kept the people at the center of a case, front and center. No matter whether it was a headline-grabbing case or one that got no media coverage at all, she was always thinking about the people, how the outcome would affect their lives, their families, their situations. And that's something I've tried to keep with me throughout my career, and certainly I hope to live up to both of their examples. Six years ago, you started your journey as the prosecutor, Washtenaw County. How has that helped you with the position that you're going to take in the next couple months here? Well look, we have just such a tremendous team of people in Washtenaw County and I've gotten to work alongside some of the best prosecutors and victim advocates and some of the work that we've done in Washtenaw County is work that I'm going to continue to keep front and center as Attorney General. I'll mention one thing. Cold case sexual assault case prosecution, right? We have an initiative there in Washtenaw County where we've been able to get justice for victims of sexual assault whose cases had been potentially forgotten about, right, and in that context. Justice delayed should never be justice denied. The Attorney General's office has been a partner in that work in Washtenaw County. I want to continue and expand on that work because at the end of the day, we should be all about getting justice for survivors, for victims, no matter how long it takes. Look, you mentioned sexual assault cases. I know that Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy has been very big on that. That's been a huge platform for her. During her time in office, so is there going to be a partnership between you two, between the state and between her office here in Wayne County? I look forward to helping any locally elected prosecutor or any law enforcement with anything that they need assistance with. I'm cognizant of the fact that they are independently elected, right? And the Attorney General, I think, should respect that. But any assistance we can provide, any help that we can provide, any work that we can do together, In the administration of justice on behalf of all Michiganders is something that our office will stand ready, willing, and able to do. Look, I know that Washtenaw County is known for being a bit of a progressive county compared to some of these other counties in Michigan. When it comes to... Um, looking at many of these cases in the state or, or, or helping solve problems legally in the state, um, how, what do you feel like that may shape your job over the next four years? Well, look, um, Washtenaw County is home for me. I love Washtenaw County, uh, but I'm my own person. I ran my own campaign. I ran statewide. And what I'll tell you is though, I love Washtenaw County. I love Ann Arbor. It's where I grew up. It's not as though I'm beholden to everything that Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County does. And in terms of ideology, I don't think that there's anything really ideological about what I ran. We ran on the fact that justice should work for everybody and that even the most powerful of corporations, if they're ripping us off, they shouldn't be above the law. We ran on a platform of working not just to prosecute crime, but we need to do that, but also to prevent it from happening in the first place. We ran on getting justice for workers and consumers and holding corporate polluters accountable when they contaminate our air and our water. I don't think that's an ideological position. We all learned it in kindergarten, right? You make a mess, you clean it up. I think that should apply to corporations just like everybody else. And we ran on making sure that we're standing up to protect Michiganders' civil rights and voting rights. These are rights that are just at the core of who we are. in the United States of America. There shouldn't be anything ideological about that and as your next Attorney General, whether you voted for me or not, I'm going to be fighting for you, fighting for your rights, and fighting for your family. I'm glad you said that because I know that there was criticism of Washtenaw County compared to some other counties not being as tough on crime, but I think there's some perspective that should be put there and I'm glad that you spoke on that. that. Have you spoken with Dana Nessel yet? Yes. Oh, yes. I've been speaking with Dana Nessel for, well, for really years. But Dana has been great throughout this campaign. She's been great in helping plan the transition process. And we had a long conversation yesterday. We're going to be continuing to talk and work together throughout the transition process. I'm so grateful for her leadership, and I'm so grateful for her commitment Commitment to make sure that we don't skip a beat when the leadership changes on January 1st. Look, I know you're busy, man. I want to give you a chance. Just look in the camera. And if you have a chance to just thank everybody who has helped you so far, this is your opportunity. Well, look, from the bottom of my heart to all the people of the state of Michigan, I have so much gratitude for the trust that you have put in. The attorney general is the people's lawyer and what I am committed to doing. is representing each and every one of the 10 million Michigan residents who have ultimately placed their trust in me. That's true whether you supported me or not, whether you voted for me or not. I'm going to be your lawyer, the people's lawyer. And I'm looking forward to doing everything I can to fight for you in that capacity. Thank you, Michigan. At least I have to appreciate it, man. What do you do to relax now, man? Or do you get a chance to relax? I don't know what relaxation looks like, but I'll tell you this. I love playing basketball. I have a Sunday morning game that I haven't been able to go to very much in the last year and a half. I'm looking forward to getting back out on the court. If you You play with me, you're probably going have any to be hoping that I guard you, because I'm sure I'm a little bit out of shape and out of practice, questions, and I haven't gotten a good full court run in for a while, but I'm looking forward to getting back on the court. You've got your priorities in order, but I appreciate it, man. please feel Thank you. Thank you so much. Ellie Savitt, brand new Attorney General, soon to be Attorney General, and we will continue free to reach to speak with you down the line, so best of luck. Thank you so much for having me. No problem. out to me.