A Michigan prosecutor suggested Governor Gretchen Whitmer could face criminal charges for his treatment of deaths in residences in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic while the state attorney general launched an investigation into the fatalities. .
The news comes when Republicans in the Michigan legislature said they will hold hearings on a $ 155,000 confidential separation agreement made to former Department of Health director Robert Gordon amid allegations that it could be a “silent payment.”
Macomb County Attorney Peter Lucido said he cannot get information about deaths in long-term residences and care centers because of strict laws that protect patient health information.
“If we find intentional negligence in office, if we find that there has been a reckless danger of endangering a person’s life, then we would continue with charges against the governor. Of course we would. No one is above the law in that state, “Lucido told ABC 7 WXYZ on Monday.
The questions surrounding Whitmer about the deaths in the nursing home are similar to the scandal surrounding New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who even before his sexual harassment scandal had pushed calls for him to leave the charge or be charged.
The confronted governor is also being prosecuted for allegations of five women sexually harassing them by touching or kissing them inappropriately and making inappropriate comments to them.
Whitmer, in an interview with CNN Sunday, said he supports an independent investigation into his fellow Democratic governor.
“I think the complaints here are very serious and need to be taken seriously. And I believe that an impartial, thorough and independent investigation is deserved and appropriate, “he told” State of the Union. “
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel will examine state coronavirus nursing home policies, according to ClickonDetroit.com.
Whitmer’s office blasted Lucido in a statement to WXYZ, calling his comments “shameful political attacks based on no fact or reality.”
The statement also states that Lucido’s fellow Republicans confirmed that “they have not seen any evidence or testimony that says a nursing home was forced to take someone against their will.”
His office said the state “gave priority to tests” of residence staff and residents of the residence “to save lives.”
“At the beginning of the pandemic, the state acted quickly to create a network of regional centers with adequate isolation and PPE units to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within a facility. In addition, we have offered to the “100% of nursing home residents have priority access to the vaccine. Both the former head of AARP and an independent UM study praised our work to save lives in nursing homes,” the statement said. .
Michigan House Superintendent Steve Johnson, a Republican, said he wants Whitmer’s answers about residency deaths and payment to the former health director.
“We have invited the department to come and testify before our oversight committee. They have refused to do so. We asked them to share with us the data on the deaths of the residences. Don’t deny it. And now we see that the governor has paid former health department director Robert Gordon $ 155,000 to remain silent, which begs the question: what are they trying to hide, ”he told Fox News.
He said Michigan was one of the states that “forced COVID patients” into nursing homes, “just like what you saw in New York, Governor Cuomo.”
“That happened here, and they knew the numbers in New York and the fatalities in residences, and that’s the question here: they’re hiding the numbers,” Johnson said.
Whitmer denied that Gordon, who resigned in January, received a payment for being silent.
“I really break this characterization. It’s the nature of a separation agreement, when someone in a leadership position leaves … that there are terms and not all terms can be shared. That’s just what it is, ”Whitmer told reporters at a news conference earlier this month, the Detroit Free Press reported.
But it would not raise why Gordon resigned or why taxpayer money was used for a separation deal that remains confidential.
J ohnson said he had the same questions.
“This is not a common thing, nor something we have already seen here in the state government. If it’s so common, why weren’t they open to the public about it? “, He said.
The Whitmer office did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment on the residences and the separation payment.