Michigan Department of Health Director Gretchen Whitmer is expected to receive a payout of $ 155,506 in January, and his departure has not yet been explained, The Detroit News reported Monday.
Former Michigan State Health Director Robert Gordon has also signed a confidentiality agreement “in the interest of consulting with government officials”, according to the agreement obtained through a public record request by The Detroit News.
REPORTER CHARLIE LEDUFF TO DEFEND MICHIGAN GOV WITMER ON NURSING CORONAVIRUS DATA
“In response to any inquiries from prospective employers, the employer will declare that the employee has resigned voluntarily,” the agreement reads, according to The Detroit News.
A source close to the Republican leadership in the state told Fox News an investigation could be announced tomorrow.
Republicans quickly tackled the report.
Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan, wears a mask with the word ‘voice’ displayed on the front during a roundtable discussion on health care, Wednesday, October 7, 2020, in Kalamazoo, Mich. (Nicole Hester / Ann Arbor News via AP)
((Nicole Hester / Ann Arbor News via AP))
“We’re still investigating the things the Whitmer administration had in mind during COVID when we found out about a secret payout behind closed doors,” State Representative Steve Johnson, chairman of the Michigan House Oversight Committee, told Fox News in a statement. “Although it does not surprise me, the deception is shocking and shows how badly these administrations need supervision so that they can be held accountable.”
“Mr. Robert Gordon was the state’s health director and played a key role in the state’s COVID-19 response,” Michigan GOP spokesman Ted Goodman said in a statement to Fox News. “Michigan taxpayers deserve to know the circumstances surrounding Mr Gordon’s resignation in the midst of a public health crisis. Why is the Whitmer government refusing to explain this secret agreement?”
Robert Gordon. Thanks to Michigan Governor’s Executive Office
The Detroit News also reports that Governor Mark Totten sent Gordon an email to accept his resignation 11 minutes before Gordon announced his resignation via social media.
Dennis Muchmore, former ex-assistant to the Michigan government, Rick Snyder, told The Detroit News he could not remember a separation from the government that had ‘cash’.
“Sometimes we gave them a few weeks off at the end, but most of those I can remember always had time to come to them,” Muchmore told The Detroit News. “I do not know of any cash involved.”
Whitmer had earlier avoided a question as to whether she was behind Gordon’s departure.
“Leading this department in unimaginable circumstances was exhausting,” Whitmer told The Detroit News on January 25. “On behalf of all the people of Michigan, I want to thank him for his service to our state. He has worked hard to protect our public health. ‘
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The Detroit News report comes as Republican state lawmakers in Michigan have Whitmer in their sights. They recently called for an investigation into the governor’s handling of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities during the coronavirus pandemic.
Fox News’ query to Whitmer was not immediately returned.
Houston Keene of Fox News contributed to this report.