In yet more bad news for Democrats, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s close friend and close ally has been charged with a slew of felonies, most of which carry serious prison time, over her alleged theft of funds that were granted by the Michigan state legislature. As the money came from the government, it is a very bad optics issue for the governor, and likely to get worse as more details dribble out.
The Michigan Attorney General announced the charges and scandal in a press release that was promulgated on May 6, one that detailed the sweeping charges the governor’s friend is facing and the allegations of corruption surrounding the grant that led to those charges.
Beginning, the press release revealed that the state money involved was a whopping $20 million grant handed to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s friend, saying, “Today, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced 16 felony charges against Fay Beydoun, 62, of Farmington Hills, for the alleged theft of funds and fraudulent administration of a $20 million state legislative grant awarded to Global Link International, a company created and controlled by Beydoun.”
Continuing, the statement revealed that the friend of the governor lied about how she was using the funds, saying, “Beydoun allegedly used appropriated funds for her own personal use and enrichment, repeatedly lied to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) about expenses contrary to the purpose of the grant and activities of the business accelerator, and did each of these to further a criminal enterprise for her own financial gain.”
Later on, the statement described the sweeping set of felonies that the governor’s friend is facing, saying, “Beydoun has been charged with the following: One count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, a 20-year felony; Seven counts of Uttering and Publishing, a 14-year felony; One count of Forgery, a 14-year felony; One count of Larceny by Conversion, more than $20,000, a 10-year felony; and Six counts of Larceny by Conversion, $1,000 to $20,000, a 5-year felony.”
Further, the press release explained that the investigation is continuing, saying, “Beydoun has been charged in the 47th District Court in Farmington Hills. The Attorney General’s investigation into Global Link International’s funding and administration remains ongoing.”
Attorney General Nessel, commenting on the situation in a statement included in the press release, said, “Today, we allege Fay Beydoun sought and received a $20 million ‘Michigan enhancement grant’ from the state Legislature, operated a criminal enterprise to use those funds for personal expenses and her own enrichment, and lied repeatedly when reporting how she used those funds.”
"*" indicates required fields
Yet further, the AG noted, “The process by which this ‘grant’ was proposed, developed, awarded, and administered bears practically zero semblance to the traditional grant process, and was only made possible through a system that pairs political cronyism with minimal oversight.”
Concluding, AG Nessel explained, “Since the enactment of the Global Link grant, some significant reforms have been enacted by the Legislature. These reforms are meaningful, but with millions of dollars in public funding at hand, the State and each of its agencies must do more to prevent abuses of state funds and to require responsible administration of enhancement grants — regardless of whether their recipients enjoy positions of power, privilege, and political connections.”