Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer may face investigation by AG
Calls from state Republicans to investigate the governor are gaining momentum amid allegations that she paid $ 155,000 in secret money to a former director of the state’s health department. Congressman Steve Johnson’s reaction to Fox & Friends First.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer defended her government’s controversial payments to three state officials who are leaving Republicans demanding details and investigating subpoenas.
Whitmer, a Democrat, was asked about the deals during a press conference on Tuesday, where she defended “separation deals”, saying they are “used frequently” in both business and the public sector when a leader organization leaves its position.
“And, due to the nature of the agreement, there is not much else I can say on the matter,” said the governor of Wolverine State.
The Michigan governor was pressured to see if the business added up to “secret money”, as claimed by state Republicans.
“I really get irritated by this characterization,” said Whitmer. “The nature of the separation agreement is that when someone leaves, there are terms for him and you can’t share all the terms. That’s just what it is.”
Whitmer’s did not immediately return Fox News’ request to comment on the exchange.
Michigan Republican Party communications director Ted Goodman criticized Whitmer on Wednesday, saying she appeared to be “buying silence” from state health officials amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Governor Gretchen Whitmer appears to be buying the silence of senior government officials during the biggest public health crisis of our time,” Goodman said in a statement released to Fox News.
“If there is nothing to hide, the governor and these former employees must provide details about these rewards and confidentiality agreements.”
“Michiganders deserve to know,” he added.
The scrutiny comes after revelations that former Michigan Department of Health director Robert Gordon and Whitmer quietly reached a secret separation agreement that yielded a payment of $ 155,506 to Gordon.
MICHIGAN GOV. WHITMER THREATENED WITH SUBPOENA ON SECRET PAYMENT TO HEALTH DIRECTOR
Since then, two more confidential agreements have emerged between the Whitmer administration and other outgoing state officials. Former Michigan unemployment insurance agency director Steven Gray took home nearly $ 86,000. Gray’s agreement contained a confidentiality agreement similar to Gordon’s.
Gordon’s deputy director, Sarah Esty, also made a separation agreement with the state that included four weeks of “paid administrative leave”. The deal did not say how much Esty would receive, but four weeks of paid leave with his salary would amount to about $ 11,000.
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Whitmer is also facing scrutiny for his way of dealing with asylums during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Michigan governor was threatened on Tuesday with a subpoena by state legislators from the Republican Party who accused the governor of “buying silence” from his former employees.