Nesbitt asks DOJ to investigate Whitmer’s ties to grant scandal

By Elyse Apel
The Center Square

Michigan Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt is calling for a federal investigation into Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s connections to former ally and donor Fay Beydoun following criminal charges tied to a $20 million taxpayer-funded state grant.

Nesbitt, R-Porter Township, sent a letter Monday to Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche requesting the U.S. Department of Justice investigate Whitmer and her administration over the grant awarded to Beydoun’s nonprofit, Global Link International.

“The people of Michigan deserve to trust that taxpayer dollars are used to help Michigan families, not enrich political donors,” Nesbitt wrote. “Those who violate that trust should be held accountable, regardless of their office or connections.”

His letter follows Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filing charges earlier this month against Beydoun, a former Michigan Economic Development Corporation executive committee member and Whitmer appointee.

Beydoun, 62, is accused of using taxpayer funds intended for an Oakland County business accelerator for personal enrichment, according to the attorney general’s office.

The charges include one count of conducting a criminal enterprise, seven counts of uttering and publishing, one count of forgery, one count of larceny by conversion over $20,000, and six additional counts of larceny by conversion between $1,000 and $20,000. If convicted on all counts, Beydoun will likely spend the rest of her life in prison.

In his letter, Nesbitt argued a federal investigation is necessary because of what he described as a “conflict of interest” involving Nessel and Whitmer.

“Michigan faces a unique crisis of oversight,” Nesbitt wrote. “Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel maintains a well-documented personal friendship and political alliance with Gov. Whitmer. This relationship creates an inherent conflict of interest that calls into question whether the Michigan attorney general can impartially investigate the governor.”

Nesbitt pointed to several factors he said warrant federal scrutiny, including:

• Whitmer’s appointment of Beydoun to the MEDC executive committee

• Beydoun’s political donations to Whitmer and other Democrats

• Messages in which Beydoun allegedly claimed she spoke directly with Whitmer to secure funding.

According to investigators, Beydoun allegedly forged invoices, submitted misleading expense reports to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and used grant money for personal purchases including home decor, gardening supplies, catered dinners and legal expenses.

Among the allegations, prosecutors say Beydoun submitted a false invoice from a law firm to cover personal legal expenses, misrepresented a lease expense, and claimed more than $6,000 spent on handmade Tunisian rugs was related to an overseas investor event.

The attorney general’s office also alleges Beydoun used grant money to host dinners connected to then-Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan at her home and spent thousands on furniture and patio supplies.

The grant, approved through Public Act 166 of 2022, was intended to establish and operate a global business accelerator aimed at attracting international businesses to Michigan. Beydoun filed paperwork to incorporate Global Link International just days before securing the grant. She was also serving on the MEDC board at the time of the grant’s awarding.

Nessel, when announcing the charges, criticized the grant approval process as an example of “political cronyism with minimal oversight.”

The case has intensified Republican criticism of the MEDC and Whitmer administration oversight practices, which has been growing for years.

State Rep. Jay DeBoyer, R-Clay Township, said the charges underscore concerns House Republicans have raised for months.

“Taxpayer-funded grants should provide return for taxpayers. They are not personal piggybanks for bureaucrats,” DeBoyer said in a statement.

Michigan Republicans are also calling on elected officials to return campaign contributions linked to Beydoun.

“We are calling on all politicians to return any money they took from Democrat donor and Whitmer appointee Fay Beydoun, who faces criminal charges for stealing MILLIONS of DOLLARS from taxpayers,” said the Michigan Republican Party in a statement following the announcement of the charges.

Whitmer’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.