LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan’s top economic development official and close ally of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ignored a whistleblower’s warning about a taxpayer funded $20 million grant since the recipient was his “personal friend.”

A 30-page affidavit revealed the conversation between the whistleblower and Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) CEO Quentin Messer. That’s when the whistleblower said she “realized nothing was going to get done about the appropriation” after hearing those words from Messer.

The ongoing scandal.

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The revelation is the latest in a scandal that’s encompassed Gov. Whitmer, the MEDC, and Democratic donor and MEDC committee member Fay Beydoun.

The affidavit served as the basis for a slew of warrants issued in June that lead to a search of the MEDC’s downtown Lansing office and Beydoun’s home in Farmington Hills. The searches are part of an ongoing embezzlement investigation into a grant Whitmer pressured the Legislature three years ago to direct to Beydoun’s nonprofit, Global Link International.

“Fraudulent” expenses.

Attorney General Dana Nessel’s investigative team described dozens of Global Link International expenses as “fraudulent.” A signed grant agreement showed the MEDC was the administrator of the grant. Essentially, it had the power to eliminate the grant after the whistleblower brought her concerns. The MEDC did not terminate the grant until March 2025. By that time, Beydoun had already given herself amore than $500,000 per year salary, subsidized trips, and a lavish $4.500 coffee maker.

During that time, Beydoun also held reelection fundraisers for Gov. Whitmer.

The MEDC: A “quasi” agency.

Nessel has repeatedly said that Messer is a potential target in this investigation and she’s called the MEDC a “quasi-public-quasi-private agency that operates outside the rules of state government” and should not be receiving taxpayer funds.

In addition, Nessel has tried to distance Whitmer from the investigation but the ties between Whitmer, the MEDC, and Beydoun are undeniable. Whitmer’s recent and numerous overseas trips have included Messer.