LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – All roads lead back to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and one of her campaign donors who is under criminal investigation for misusing taxpayer money.

In February 2022, Whitmer pressured Michigan lawmakers to earmark $15 million for a grant program supposedly tied to attracting international businesses to the state. Whitmer campaign donor Fay Beydoun received a piece of that pie for her nonprofit, Global Link International.

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Whitmer has attempted to downplay her involvement in giving the taxpayer money to her friend. However, The Detroit News reportedly obtained emails that detailed the governor’s pet group, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), played a significant role in greasing the wheels so Beydoun would receive the grant. In addition, Beydoun served on MEDC’s executive committee.

The grant, which has now been cancelled, paid for a $4,500 coffeemaker, an $11,000 first class ticket to Budapest, and Beydoun’s annual salary of $550,000.

The uncovered information poses a circular mess for Whitmer and her friends. Whitmer pushed for Beydoun to get the money and Beydoun served on MEDC’s committee, which gave her power to vote on the contract for MEDC CEO Quentin Messer Jr.  That equals a conflict of interest.

The once powerful trifecta in Lansing consisting of Whitmer, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and Attorney General Dana Nessel has weakened in recent months. On June 18, agents with Nessel’s office served a search warrant on Beydoun’s home as part of an embezzlement investigation. Beydoun’s home served as the location of a Whitmer reelection campaign fundraiser in 2021. In addition, Nessel’s investigators raided the MEDC office the same day in Lansing.

Nessel’s office also determined that Benson’s gubernatorial campaign launch in January violated campaign finance law, but the law doesn’t allow for a civil or criminal punishment.