Michigan’s governor of health department director Gretchen Whitmer received a payment of $ 155,506 before his sudden resignation in January, and his departure has yet to be explained, the Detroit News reported on Monday.
Former Michigan State Department Director Robert Gordon also signed a confidentiality agreement “in the interest of protecting deliberations between government officials,” in accordance with the agreement reached through a request for records opened by the The Detroit News.
CHARLIE LEDUFF REPORTER TO PROCESS MICHIGAN GOV WHITMER ON NURSING HOUSE CORONAVIRUS DATA
“In response to any inquiries from prospective employers, the employer will declare that the employee voluntarily resigned,” says the agreement according to The Detroit News.
A source close to the Republican leadership in the state told Fox News that an investigation could be announced tomorrow.
Republicans were quick to take advantage of the report.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer wears a mask with the word “vote” displayed on the front during a roundtable on health, Wednesday, October 7, 2020, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. (Nicole Hester / Ann Arbor News via AP )
((Nicole Hester / Ann Arbor News via AP))
“We are still investigating the things that the Whitmer administration did during COVID in plain view when we found out about a secret reward behind closed doors,” State Representative Steve Johnson, Michigan City House Oversight Committee chairman, told Fox News in a statement. “Although I am not surprised, the mistake is shocking and shows how much this government needs supervision so that they can be held accountable.”
“Mr. Robert Gordon was the state’s health director and played a key role in responding to the state’s COVID-19,” Ted Goodman, spokesman for the Michigan Republican Party, told Fox News in a statement. “Michigan taxpayers deserve to know the circumstances surrounding Mr. Gordon’s resignation in the midst of a public health crisis. Why does Governor Whitmer refuse to explain this secret deal?”
Detroit News also reported that Mark Totten, the governor’s top legal advisor, sent Gordon an email accepting his resignation 11 minutes before Gordon announced his resignation via social media.
Dennis Muchmore, a former aide to former Michigan governor Rick Snyder, told The Detroit News that he couldn’t remember a split from that government that had “money involved”.
“Sometimes I gave them a few weeks of vacation at the end, but most of those I remember always had time to go to them,” Muchmore told The Detroit News. “I don’t know of any money involved.”
Whitmer had already dodged a question about whether she was behind Gordon’s departure.
“To lead this department in unimaginable circumstances, it has been strenuous,” said Whitmer on January 25, according to The Detroit News. “On behalf of the entire people of Michigan, I want to thank you for your services to our state. He has worked hard to protect our public health.”
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The Detroit News report comes at a time when state Republican lawmakers in Michigan have Whitmer in their sights. They recently called for an investigation into how the governor handled asylums and other long-term care facilities during the coronavirus pandemic.
Fox News’ inquiry into Whitmer was not immediately returned.
Houston Keene of Fox News contributed to this report.