Corey Harris, who famously appeared at his court hearing on Zoom while driving with a suspended license, reportedly didn’t have a valid driver’s license in Michigan.
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Judge Cedric Simpson revealed the details during Harris’ pre-trial hearing on Wednesday. Court officials confirmed that he had never paid his fees to the clerk’s office the day before, so clearance was never sent to the Secretary of State. Additionally, Harris claimed his driving record was still listed as ‘suspended’ and blamed it on the Saginaw Friend of the Court. He explained that they were responsible for the suspension not being lifted in a child support case despite a judge issuing the order in 2022.
Judge Simpson stated that Harris should be the only person responsible for his actions and further revealed that, as ABC affiliate 7 Action News reported, he never had a valid driver’s license in Michigan or any other state. The state law says a person can have suspensions on their driving record and not have a valid driver’s license. However, if the individual were to obtain their driver’s license, they would not have the opportunity to drive until their suspension is cleared.
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A police officer who issued the citation to Harris in October 2022 appeared for the hearing and said he knew he didn’t have a valid driver’s license because he confessed to it during the traffic stop. Judge Simpson cited additional evidence to support the officer’s claim that Harris consistently renewed his state identification yearly.
He announced a bench warrant for Harris’ arrest after he further noted a 2015 case of driving while license suspended in Allen Park. Harris’ wife explained that they already paid the fees for that case and were surprised he was being arrested again. The couple also noted that his May 15 court appearance that went viral on social media has led to harassment and ridicule.
Harris’s attorney said her client would try to get a driver’s license and said it should be a lesson for all to handle your business to avoid any further issues.
