A prosecutor in Michigan suggested that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer could face criminal charges for dealing with deaths in nursing homes in the early days of the coronovirus epidemic as the state’s attorney general began investigating fatal cases.
The news comes as Republicans in the Michigan legislature said they would hold a hearing in a $ 155,000 confidential separation agreement made for former Health Department director Robert Gordon, alleging it could be a “hush payment” .
Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said he is unable to obtain information about deaths at nursing homes and has long-term care facilities because of stringent laws that harden patients’ health care information.
“If we find that the will of the office has been neglected, if we find that the reckless endangerment of a person’s life has been brought to them, we will proceed with the charges against the governor. Of course, we will. No one in the state is above the law, ”said Lucido. ABC 7 WXYZ on Monday.
The questions surrounding Whitmer regarding the deaths in nursing homes are similar to the scandal surrounding the New York government’s Andrew Scaumo. Earlier, his growing sexual harassment scandal prompted him to take action against him or to seek impeachment.
The embattled governor is also chased by accusations from five women that he harassed them by sexually inappropriate touching or kissing both, and making inappropriate comments to them.
Whitmer said in an interview on CNN Sunday that she supports the independent investigation of her fellow Democratic governors.
“I think the allegations here are very serious and need to be taken seriously. And I think a fair, thorough, independent investigation is meritless and justified, “he” said on the State of the Union.
The state will examine coronavirus nursing home policies according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel ClickonDetroit.com.
Whitmer’s office blasted Lucido in a statement to WXYZ, calling his comments “an embarrassing political attack based on fact or reality”.
The statement also said that Lucido’s Republican colleagues confirmed that they had “seen no evidence or testimony that says a nursing home was forced to take someone against their will.”
Her office said the state nursing home staff and residents “tested priorities” to “save lives.”
“Early in the epidemic, the state rapidly worked to create a network of isolation hubs and regional hubs with sufficient PPE to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within a facility. In addition, we vaccinated nursing home residents. 100 percent priority is offered. Former head of AARP as well as an independent UM study praised our work to save lives in nursing homes.
Michigan House Oversight President Steve Johnson, a Republican, said he wants answers from Whitmer on nursing home deaths and payment to the former health director.
He said, ‘We have invited the department to come before our Oversight Committee and give testimony. He has refused. W e have asked them to share data with us about deaths in nursing homes. T hey refused. And now we see that the governor paid former Health Department director Robert Gordon $ 155,000 to keep calm, which answers the question: what are they trying to hide, “he pointed out Fox News.
He said that like Michigan, New York, “forced patients” were seen in nursing homes “in New York, Gov. Cuomo”.
Johnson said, “It happened here, and they increased the number of deaths in New York and nursing homes, and that’s the question.”
Whitmer denied that Gordon, who resigned in January, got paid to keep quiet.
“I really emphasize that characterization. It’s the nature of a separate agreement, when someone leaves someone in a leadership position … that it has words and you can’t share every word of it. Whitmer told reporters at a press conference earlier this month, that’s all Detroit free press Reported.
But she does not explain why Gordon resigned or why taxpayer’s money was used for a separate settlement that remains confidential.
Jay Ohnson said he had similar questions.
He said, “This is not something that is common, not something that we have seen here in the state government.” I said, this is so common, why not they were open to the public about it.
Whitmer’s office did not immediately respond to the Post’s request for comment about the nursing home and separation payments.
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