'The Week That Was:' M.L. Elrick Defends Ericka Erickson in the Sheriff Ray Washington's Controversy

"The Week That Was'" podcast host Nancy Derringer talks with guests, Detroit Free Press investigative columnist M.L. Elrick, content creator Myron Watkins, attorney Joel Sklar, labor and community activist Barb Ingalls, and Deadline Detroit co-founder Allan Lengel.The group talks about a number of issues, including the controversy involving Wayne County Sheriff Raphael "Ray" Washington and allegations in a federal sexual harassment lawsuit against him filed by former sheriff’s office official Regina Parks. Washington has insisted all the allegations are unfounded.They also talk about the latest report by WXYZ's Ross Jones that includes allegations that Washington sexually harassed WDIV's Ericka Erickson, who worked as the sheriff's communications director in 2021–2022. Erickson raised concerns with sheriff officials but never filed a formal complaint or lawsuit.Jones' report includes secret recordings Erickson made on the job, including one with the former sheriff's chief of staff, Michael Turner, who told Erickson Washington was a "womanizer" who made him uncomfortable with his bahavior with certain woman on the job.M.L. Elrick said he's worked with Erickson and considers her a good friend and said she has always been nothing but professional and wouldn't have done anything to trigger any potentially inappropriate behavior by Washington. (Starts at 41:37 mark) "She's a beautiful woman I think that's an objective fact," Elrick said. "And she's also one of the people who's made me happy that I'm not a beautiful person because there are people who can make your life miserable if they're attracted to you."I've never known her to be flirtatious.I've never known her to be promiscuous. I've never known her to be provocative and I've never known her to use whatever skin-deep appeal she may have to advance her career or to get ahead on a story. She's the consummate professional she's really hard working."If somebody were to sit down and say to me, the reason this happened is because of some conduct on the part of Erica Erickson, I can just tell you, in knowing her as a colleague again as a friend for over a decade that would blow my mind."The group also talks about DTE's $100 million fine for polluting Zug Island, the Supreme Court's ruling against President Trump's tariffs, and Trump's interference with the Gordie Howe International Bridge and Matthew Moroun's involvement.