The Michigan Court of Appeals recently ruled a recall effort with the state’s Board of Canvassers against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The court had affirmed seven recall petitions – six looking to unseat the state’s Democratic governor and one seeking to recall Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II. Five petitions are aimed at her handling of the pandemic and one is aimed at a trip Whitmer took to Israel in 2019 before the pandemic.
Whitmer campaign spokesperson Mark Fisk said that the governor will argue against these cases and that the authorities are not adequately described as reasons for the recall. He said that they fully intend to “beat back these irresponsible partisan attacks against the governor” and fight against the Republicans trying to make the governor fail.
But the recall petitions are not anything out of the blue. Gov. Whitmer has attracted controversy to her role in recent months regarding COVID-19 protocols and orders. Whitmer was even recently spotted eating at the Landshark Bar & Grill, where a photograph revealed several tables pushed together and people eating closely without masks.
The dinner violated the state Department of Health and Human Services order mandating parties be separated by six feet, along with the state’s mask-wearing policies. Whitmer apologized for the dinner incident and the state quickly rescinded the order. “Rules for me, but not for me” seems to be Whitmer’s go-to line.
There have also been instances with Whitmer’s close aides and state officials traveling out of Michigan for Spring Break, even though the governor issued a harsh warning that traveling at this time “increases your chances of spreading and getting COVID-19.” She recommended that people don’t travel at this time and delay their trips to protect themselves. Shortly after, the director of Health and Human Services Elizabeth Hertel and the governor’s chief operating officer Tricia Foster both took trips out of state and against the April 5 guidelines.
There has also been controversy surrounding a recent trip Whitmer took to Florida in March to visit her Dad. Whitmer changed her story multiple times because she didn’t follow the health department’s guidance and later claimed that there wasn’t an executive order in place to follow. Even though Whitmer has forced some of the most draconian restrictions on her state, it seems like she’s willing to throw them all out the window for a quick trip to Florida.
“We will be issuing a letter to Governor Whitmer with specific questions related to her junket to Florida. Based on the response we receive, the Oversight Committee will consider doing hearings on this scandal. The people of Michigan deserve answers on what the Governor is trying to hide and why,” Michigan House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. Steve Johnson said.
Lawyers have also suggested that Whitmer’s administration undercounted the total of nursing home deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. She had approved a policy similar to one in New York, which demanded that nursing facilities accept positive coronavirus patients.
There’s something to be said when the American people want to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, and now Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer – all being left-wing leaders. It’s hard to imagine that any of these people will be held accountable for the crimes they’ve committed, especially with the support of the mainstream media. But it’s more proof that even the bluest states are ready to go red.