The Whitmer Administration Has Used Every Lever Of Power To Persecute Their Political Opponents All The While Evading Accountability For Their Corruption
“There is a clear history proving how Michigan Democrats Gretchen Whitmer, Dana Nessel, and Jocelyn Benson have colluded to weaponize their offices to persecute political enemies on a purely partisan basis,” said Gustavo Portela, MIGOP Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director. “This abuse of power has festered for far too long, and it is time for new and honest leadership to sweep the state in November, which will happen when Michiganders elect Republicans in a massive red wave at the ballot box.”
Jocelyn Benson Falsely Portrayed Opposition To Her As An Attack On Democracy
- Benson eagerly teamed up with the partisan and questionable January 6th committee in Washington DC and submitted documents to the all-Democrat appointed group.
- Benson repeatedly falsely accused President Trump of trying to kill her and provided no evidence when pushed back on her baseless claim.
- Benson then falsely accused other Secretaries of State of rigging elections against Democrats.
- This of course comes after framing a vote against her keeping her job as Michigan Secretary of State election as a vote against democracy.
Dana Nessel Has Been Systematically Persecuting Her Political Enemies
- Nessel bragged on national TV about having five open investigations involving high level Republicans.
- Nessel criminally charged former Governor Rick Snyder and several members of his administration over their handling of the Flint water crisis.
- Nessel used a rare “one-person grand jury” procedure that is extremely rare in Michigan courts that the Detroit Free Press described as a process “cloaked in secrecy.”
- Republican leadership has not called on Whitmer to be charged for ignoring Benton Harbor’s water crisis for three years.
- The Detroit News editorial board blasted Dana Nessel calling on her to “end the Flint witch hunt.”
- Last year, Nessel came under fire after her office leaked confidential bankruptcy records to the public.
- Nessel hired her former legal partner, Chris Kessel, to the prosecution team and gave him a $134,000 salary.
- In 2022, Nessel pushed for federal charges against numerous influential Michigan Republicans.
- In 2021, Nessel sought sanctions against lawyers who filed lawsuits in support of President Trump’s election challenge.
- In 2020, Nessel launched an investigation into Michigan GOP Chairman Ron Weiser just to admit months later there was no evidence that Weiser committed a crime.
- In 2020, Nessel opened up a criminal probe against Unlock Michigan the same week they completed a signature campaign to curtail Whitmer’s emergency powers.
- Nessel later quietly dropped the case.
- In 2020, Nessel personally intervened to have a pizza shop owner arrested after she learned the owner was about to go on Fox News while her office was monitoring her social media accounts and ordered her staff to have her locked up for the 93-days – the maximum she could seek.
- In 2020, Nessel retaliated against a barbershop in Owosso by revoking his business license after he successfully sued to remain open.
- Just after taking office, Nessel enlisted the Southern Poverty Law Center to create justification to go after “hate groups” even if they commit no crimes or civil infractions.
- The Southern Poverty Law Center often mislabels mainstream conservative organizations as hate groups to create a justification for political actors to target them.
Whitmer And Her Allies Baselessly Targeted Republicans
- In 2018, Whitmer allies pushed for an FBI investigation into Bill Schuette which the court did not even allow to go to a grand jury.
- The Ingham County Circuit Court unanimously denied the push to form a grand jury against Schuette.
- In 2012, Whitmer was accused of wasting taxpayer money after she pushed an investigation into Republican House Speaker Jase Bolger.
Despite Using The Powers Of Government To Come Down On Republican Opponents, Nessel Used Her Office To Run Interference For Whitmer Keeping Her From Being Held Accountable
- Nessel repeatedly refused to open an investigation into Whitmer’s handling of the nursing homes during the pandemic.
- Even after an Officer of the Auditor General (OAG) report showed that Michigan Health officials underreported long-term care facility deaths by 42 percent, Nessel still refused to investigate.
- Nessel asserted that there was no criminal wrongdoing on Whitmer’s part for contracting with a Democrat data company to oversee the state’s COVID contact tracing program.
- Nessel refused to open an investigation into Whitmer’s secret trip to Florida that involved her potentially breaking state laws regarding illegal campaign payments on the use of a private jet and also for her breaking state health guidelines.
- Nessel defended Whitmer’s practice of accepting excessive campaign contributions under the guise of a non-existent recall campaign against her.