LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan Governor-elect Jocelyn Benson’s 15-member transition leadership council includes a longtime Nation of Islam member and U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, whose recent remarks about deterring young people from working for the Trump administration drew criticism.

Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad is a “student minister” in the Nation of Islam, according to reporting from the Washington Free Beacon. The publication also reported that Muhammad posed with now-U.S. Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed after the Aug. 4 primary.

Slotkin’s remarks draw scrutiny

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Slotkin came under fire over comments made Oct. 13 at the University of Chicago, where she discussed pursuing cases involving people who enabled Trump.

“I want to look at these signature cases and not just focus on the president, but on the people who enabled him,” she said.

Discussing young people considering jobs in the administration, Slotkin said she wanted them to think: “Lord, that might be buying myself a ton of problems that I don’t want.”

Slotkin later said her comments concerned accountability for illegal conduct involving taxpayer money and personal enrichment.

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump called on the Department of Justice to investigate Slotkin over her remarks. The department has not publicly confirmed opening an investigation into those comments.

Transparency and the transition

The selections raise questions about what influence council members will have as Benson prepares to take office Jan. 1, 2027, and how their public records factored into her choices.

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Benson has pledged to voluntarily open the governor’s office to Freedom of Information Act requests when she takes office. Whether her transition team will disclose its records, funding and adviser-selection process remains a separate question.

Other members of Benson’s leadership council include former U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, former Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss and Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield.