Rep. Hillary Scholten, a Democratic U.S. Representative from Grand Rapids, Michigan, recently sought to seal divorce filings from her separation from her husband, Jesse Scholten, according to court records reviewed by The Detroit News.
The revelation that Scholten tried to keep her divorce records private raises questions about transparency and accountability for public officials, especially those who have campaigned on issues of family values and personal responsibility.
The divorce case was filed in Kent County Circuit Court on January 26, 2026. Eight days after that filing, Scholten's lawyer, Erica Auster, asked a judge to seal the case, meaning its documents would not be available to the public.
Auster cited four reasons why the records should remain secret: safety, confidentiality, irreparable reputational harm, and preservation of public trust.
Because divorce pleadings frequently contain allegations that have not been adjudicated and may be inflammatory in nature, public disclosure could subject the defendant to immediate and irreversible reputational harm, with serious consequences for her professional standing, public service and reelection, Auster wrote.
Scholten, a second-term lawmaker, is up for reelection this fall in west Michigan's 3rd Congressional District.
Holcomb's lawyer, Victoria Drake, supported the motion to seal the records. In her response, she said Holcomb admitted information related to the defendant's personal life could unintentionally erode the public's opinion of her.
Kent County Circuit Court Judge Matthew DeLange denied Scholten's motion to seal the records on February 16, according to court records.
On April 3, 2026, Scholten released a statement announcing her separation from her husband. In the statement, Scholten said her husband "suddenly left our family home and then filed for divorce."
Max Ernst, Scholten's chief of staff, said Scholten "sought to keep initial proceedings private for her safety and the protection of her young children."
He added that Scholten has issued a transparent letter to her constituents about this personal matter and beyond that, she will not be discussing it further. He asked that constituents respect her privacy and the privacy of her children.
To date, two Republican candidates have announced they intend to challenge Scholten: longtime Grand Rapids television meteorologist Terri DeBoer and Grand Rapids trial attorney J. Allen Fiorletta.
The case highlights the ongoing tension between public officials' desire for privacy and the public's right to know about the personal lives of their elected representatives, especially when it comes to issues that could impact their ability to serve.