WASHINGTON — Michigan Rep. Hillary Scholten fought to seal the court docs about her divorce — as her lawyer admitted that they could hurt her election chances and cause “irreparable reputational harm.”
Earlier this month, Scholten (D-Mich.), 44, publicly revealed that her husband of 20 years, Jesse Holcomb, “suddenly left our family home and then filed for divorce,” without giving any details.
The mother of two also indicated that she has continued raising their boys and that they are “overcoming every day.”
Michigan court records, first reported by the Detroit News, indicate that Holcomb filed for divorce on Jan. 26 and shortly thereafter, the congresswoman’s lawyer pushed to conceal those records.
“Divorce pleadings frequently contain allegations that have not been adjudicated — and may be inflammatory in nature — public disclosure could subject defendant to immediate and irreversible reputational harm, with serious consequences for her professional standing, public service and reelection,” her attorney wrote, per the outlet.
Notably, Holcomb’s attorney backed the push to keep those docs under wraps — acknowledging that “information related to defendant’s personal life could unintentionally erode the public’s opinion of her.”
But ultimately, the judge overseeing the divorce proceedings rejected the effort to seal the records.
The Post contacted Scholten’s office for comment.
“The congresswoman has issued a transparent letter to her constituents about this personal matter and beyond that, she will not be discussing it further,” her chief of staff, Max Ernst, told the Detroit News, noting that she wanted to keep proceedings under wraps to protect her children.
“She is focusing her time on raising her kids and serving Michigan’s 3rd District. We ask that you respect her privacy and the privacy of her children.”
Scholten — a former social worker and immigration attorney in the Obama administration — represents Michigan’s 3rd congressional district, which encompasses the western parts of the state, including Grand Rapids.
She was elected to Congress in 2022, edging out former Republican Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.) The Cook Political Report ranks her seat as solid Democrat heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
Scholten is facing competition from two GOP hopefuls, including meteorologist Terri DeBoer and trial attorney J. Allen Fiorletta.
The congresswoman had publicly opened up about the emotional difficulties she’s endured going through divorce proceedings with her longtime husband.
“I have grown an extra chamber in my heart for moms and dads out there who have had to go through this,” Scholten said in a public statement earlier this month. “It goes without saying that this is a deeply personal matter.”
