LANSING, Mich. (Great Lakes News) – Governor Gretchen Whitmer is battling fires on several fronts after allegations of hush money to nearly a dozen state officials surface.
In addition, Whitmer is facing increasing criticism over her nursing home policy which put COVID-19 positive patients back into facilities with healthy residents.
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Another undisclosed separation deal has been exposed. A Detroit News investigation has revealed Jeff Mason, the former Michigan Economic Development Corporation president and CEO is one among eight MEDC employees who received confidential payouts from under the Whitmer administration.
Mason’s separation agreement included $128,500 in severance pay. All agreements feature a disparagement clause.
Last week, documents revealed that former Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon received $155, 506 after his abrupt resignation in January. At the time, Whitmer awkwardly tapped-danced around questions regarding his departure. Later, she said she “bristled” at the phrase “hush money” to describe Gordon’s exit.
Days later, documents revealed that another high-ranking health department official, Sarah Esty, received roughly four weeks of pay while on administrative leave. Steve Gray, the former director of the state Unemployment Insurance Agency, resigned in November and received $85,872 as part of his deal. The UIA came under scrutiny for its handling of jobless claims.
In the meantime, Gov. Whitmer is still under a cloud of suspicion as lawmakers call for an investigation into her nursing home policy. Macomb County prosecutor Peter Lucido told WXYZ he would like families of nursing home death victims to contact police and provide vital records.
Lucido raised the specter of charging Gov. Whitmer after her policy put coronavirus-infected patients in nursing homes to recuperate, leading to thousands of deaths.
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Lucido said HIPPA laws prevent him from getting the information so he’s asking families to help.
