LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) is attempting to circumvent a corruption investigation, and it is asking a Gov. Gretchen Whitmer-appointed judge to protect them from turning over documents.

The MEDC cited attorney-client privilege in an appeal claim filed on Monday with Oakland County Circuit Judge Jacob J. Cunningham.

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Attorney General Dana Nessel sent investigators to gather documents at the MEDC offices in Lansing on June 18. During that time, Gov. Whitmer and MEDC CEO Quentin Messer were in Australia on an international business trip. Both Whitmer and Messer have deep ties to the MEDC corruption investigation and an adjacent investigation involving Democratic donor and Whitmer friend Faye Beydoun.

In 2022, Whitmer, pressured Michigan lawmakers to earmark more than $15 million for a grant program that would help attract international businesses to the state. Beydoun received the money for her nonprofit group, while emails revealed that she and the MEDC were in cahoots as well to ensure the grant money would be dispersed to her. More emails reveal that Whitmer’s COO Trish Foster knew about the transaction.

Beydoun further enmeshed herself in the grant process by serving on the MEDC’s executive committee. The grant Beydoun received has since been cancelled, but not before giving herself a $550,000 salary, first-class plane tickets, and a $4,500 coffee maker with taxpayer money.

Whitmer has attempted to downplay her involvement and has remained silent on the brewing scandal. However, her connections with the MEDC run deep. The group has been her main traveling companion on recent international trips and has given tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to Chinese companies to do business in Big Rapids, Marshall, and the Flint area.

Spokesman Otie McKinley asserts MEDC is cooperating with Nessel’s office.