Gov. Gretchen Whitmer once again caught breaking her own COVID restrictions, photo leaked to media



Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) was caught over the weekend violating her own COVID-19 pandemic restrictions when she was photographed eating at a restaurant with more people than her latest pandemic restrictions allow.

What are the details?

Breitbart News obtained a photo showing Whitmer at a bar in East Lansing with a dozen other people in violation of her own COVID-related restrictions.

Breitbart reported:

Whitmer and a large group of friends, including her appointed chief operations officer, Tricia Foster, visited the Landshark in East Lansing, violating her restaurant orders in the process, according to a photo one of the attendees posted on Facebook. The photo, posted Saturday, was part of a montage. Shortly after, Whitmer's friend deleted the collage and reposted it sans the governor and one of her top aides.

Image source: Breitbart News

Whitmer issued updated COVID guidance just one week before she violated her own rules.

On May 15, Whitmer issued restrictions prohibiting indoor dining at restaurants by parties of more than six people and by groups of people who "intermingle."

"Gatherings are prohibited at food service establishments, whether indoor or outdoor, unless: Consumption of food or beverages is permitted only in a designated dining area where patrons are seated, groups of patrons are separated by at least 6 feet, no more than 6 patrons are seated together (at a table, booth, or group of fixed seats), and groups of patrons do not intermingle," the restrictions said.

How did Whitmer respond?

Her office promptly responded to growing backlash online by admitting that, yeah, Whitmer broke her own rules.

"Throughout the pandemic, I've been committed to following public health protocols. Yesterday, I went with friends to a local restaurant. As more people arrived, the tables were pushed together," Whitmer said. "Because we were all vaccinated, we didn't stop to think about it."

"In retrospect, I should have thought about it," she added. "I am human. I made a mistake, and I apologize."

REACTION: After a photo surfaced of @GovWhitmer at a table in an East Lansing bar with a dozen other people, seemin… https://t.co/ByFpQO7yUr

— Eric Lloyd (@EricLloyd) 1621800394.0

Just last month, Whitmer also faced accusations of hypocrisy stemming from a trip to Florida earlier this year, despite blaming travel to and from the Sunshine State for a COVID outbreak in her state.

Whitmer has since been hit with an ethics complaint over her use of a private jet at a greatly discounted rate for her travel to Florida.

Michigan Gov. Whitmer paid top health official massive sum in secret deal after his abrupt resignation: report



Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) has found herself in hot water after her administration agreed to pay former state Health Department Director Robert Gordon more than $150,000 in taxpayer money after he abruptly resigned his position in January.

The deal, which was first reported by the Detroit News, was made with the requirement that it remain confidential.

What are the details?

According to the Detroit News, Gordon was paid $155,506, a total of nine months salary and health benefits, in agreement for releasing the state "from any potential legal claims."

"The agreement is the clearest evidence yet that the split between Gordon ... and Whitmer was not amicable, and it shows the Democratic administration used taxpayer funds to ease his departure," the Detroit News reported.

The deal was inked on Feb. 22, one month after Gordon, who helped coordinate Michigan's COVID-19 pandemic response, abruptly left his job.

The separation agreement stipulates that, out of the interest of confidentiality, the state would tell Gordon's future employers that he voluntarily resigned.

Why did Gordon resign?

The actual reason remains unknown.

Interestingly, Gordon resigned just hours after signing a pandemic-related order allowing restaurants to begin offering indoor dining at reduced capacity. Gordon was not present at the press conference that announced the resumption of indoor dining.

Whitmer's administration had been using Gordon to issue its pandemic-related emergency orders because the Michigan Supreme Court ruled last October that Whitmer had violated the Michigan state constitution by continuing to issue highly restrictive COVID orders without approval from state lawmakers.

What was the reaction to the deal?

Republicans are using news of the secret deal to draw more attention to Whitmer's handling of the pandemic.

Rep. Steve Johnson (R), chairman of the Michigan House Oversight Committee, told Fox News:

We're still investigating the things the Whitmer Administration has done during COVID in plain sight, when we find out about a secret payoff behind closed doors. While it doesn't surprise me, the deception is shocking and shows how badly this Administration needs oversight so they can be held to account.

Meanwhile, the Michigan Republican Party wants to know what Whitmer is trying to hide by keeping the deal secret.

"Mr. Robert Gordon was the state's health director and played an instrumental role in the state's COVID-19 response. Michigan taxpayers deserve to know the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Mr. Gordon in the middle of a public health crisis," Ted Goodman, spokesman for the Michigan GOP, said.

"Why is Gov. Whitmer refusing to explain this secret deal?" Goodman added.

"What is @GovWhitmer trying to hide?" the Michigan GOP tweeted.

Anything else?

News of the deal comes as Republicans demand an investigation into Whitmer's pandemic response, particularly as it relates to nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

Smiling Democratic Gov. Whitmer appears with Santa in video, urges Michigan children not to visit grandparents for Christmas



Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer posted a video on her Twitter page using Santa Claus to spread the message of mask-wearing and social distancing — and the Democrat had an extra-special holiday message for the children gathered on the video chat.

"And another way to stay safe during the holiday is to stay home but call your grandparents and your cousins and your family," Whitmer told the tiny tots with their eyes all aglow, adding, "It's the a safest way to tell the people you love how much you care about them. This year is it has to look a little bit different so we can stay safe."

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @GovWhitmer

What else was said on the clip?

Whitmer started things off by referring to Santa, her "special guest" on the chat, as "someone who's been really following the rules and making sure that he stays safe and the elves stay safe."

Then in what appeared to be preselected questions, the children on the video chat took turns asking Santa questions, such as "Santa, do you have to wear a mask?" and "How can we keep people safe for Christmas?"

St. Nick answered the latter query: "What I would suggest to do is what the governor is telling all the people of the great state of Michigan to do: Social distance, wash your hands, and make sure you wear your mask when you're outside your home."

As Michigan's kids gear up for the holiday season, I decided to surprise a few of them with a special guest from th… https://t.co/UUtTVMOqOl
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@Governor Gretchen Whitmer)1608132605.0

How did folks react?

Whitmer — who's drawn national attention for her strict coronavirus lockdown efforts — certainly has her critics. But she has plenty of supporters as well, so reactions to her Twitter video were a mixed bag.

Some commenters gushed with admiration:

  • "Happy holidays, Governor," one user said. "Helluva job this year under extraordinary circumstances. You are everything a public servant should be. A tower of power. A leader. Compassionate. Tough. Smart as hell."
  • "I don't even live in your state but you Rock," another commenter said. "Wished you were our Governor."
  • "Thanks for doing something sweet for the kids this Christmas Governor Whitmer! Merry Christmas!" another user wrote. "To the conservatives that said this was a hoax and now mad their family members are dying due to COVID-19 and stuck at home, you can get coal."

But Whitmer's detractors were just as passionate in response to her Santa video for kids:

  • "You doing this qualifies as child abuse," one user said.
  • "That's nice since a lot of kids won't be having much of a Christmas due to your insane lockdowns," another user noted.
  • "Nothing like seeing Santa on a screen while you sit home learning next to nothing with your abusive parents who've lost their jobs," another commenter said.
  • "You exemplify the problem in politics/government today," another user wrote. "You believe that you are a 'class' above, and the 'regular people' have no right to question you. You are an oath breaking/ignoring traitorous bilge rat that should be removed from office and society."

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: 'If you're tired of lockdowns ... wearing masks, or you wish you were in church this morning,' then vote for Joe Biden



Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said that if Americans are weary of coronavirus lockdowns and the fallout from socioeconomic restrictions related to the pandemic, they should vote for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Election Day instead of President Donald Trump.

"If you're tired of lockdowns, or you're tired of wearing masks, or you wish you were in church this morning or watching college football or your kids were in-person instruction, it is time for change in this country, and that's why we've got to elect Joe Biden," Whitmer told Chuck Todd on "Meet the Press" Sunday.

EARLIER: @GovWhitmer says “if you’re tired of lockdowns or you’re tired of wearing masks or you wish you were in ch… https://t.co/k9jfI0v2mN
— Meet the Press (@Meet the Press)1603031325.0

What else did Whitmer say?

Whitmer blasted Trump during the interview, accusing the president of inciting violence and not doing his job.

"The Trump virus response is the worst in the globe — I mean, in the world it's the worst," she said. "Eight million people have contracted COVID-19, 220,000 dead. We've got people in food pantry lines who never would have imagined that they'd be there. And no light on the horizon because our numbers keep going up. This is a gravely serious moment for all of us."

What was the reaction?

Some Twitter users who commented on the "Meet the Press" clip said Whitmer's insistence on Americans voting for Biden if they want lockdowns to end and if they want to go back to church sounded like a thinly veiled ultimatum:

  • "Wait, so if we elect Biden, magically we'll be able to lift lock downs, stop wearing masks & go back to church? That's ALL we have to do, elect Biden?" one commenter said. "Something smells like a lie here."
  • "So is she basically admitting that they are 'punishing us" unless we vote for Biden? That's what it sounds like to me," another commenter said. "I would rather be locked down for the next 4 years than put a criminal who sells out America with our tax dollars into office. No thanks."
  • "So what's her point, she's holding people hostage until Trump [is] out?" another user asked. "Dictator much???"

Anything else?

In part of her interview not shown on the above video, Whitmer said Trump is inciting "domestic terrorism" due to "lock her up" chants at his Michigan rally Saturday night, the Associated Press said, and that his words are "incredibly disturbing."

"The president is at it again and inspiring and incentivizing and inciting this kind of domestic terrorism," Whitmer told "Meet the Press," according to the AP. "It is wrong. It's got to end. It is dangerous, not just for me and my family, but for public servants everywhere who are doing their jobs and trying to protect their fellow Americans. People of good will on both sides of the aisle need to step up and call this out and bring the heat down."

Earlier this month she accused Trump of being "complicit" with "hate groups" — not unlike the group federal authorities arrested for allegedly plotting to kidnap her and overthrow the state government.

Also this month Michigan's attorney general indicated she would no longer enforce Whitmer's executive orders on the coronavirus after the state Supreme Court ruled the emergency powers that the governor seized were unconstitutional — a ruling Whitmer was not happy with, to say the least.