Governor Whitmer could face criminal charges over coronavirus deaths in Michigan: Prosecutor

Macomb County prosecutor Peter Lucido says he is investigating deaths in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, and that criminal charges could be laid against Whitmer if his investigation reveals "willful neglect of office" or "reckless endangerment of a person’s life."

While patient protection laws prevent Lucido from obtaining healthcare records himself, he is encouraging those who lost loved ones in nursing homes to seek out information regarding the circumstances of their deaths.

Whitmer's office described Lucido's investigation as a "shameful political attacks based in neither fact or reality."

"The administration's policies carefully tracked CDC guidance on nursing homes, and we prioritized testing of nursing home residents and staff to save lives," the Governor's office said in a statement, arguing that the state government acted "swiftly" to isolate coronavirus patients from nursing home residents.

Whitmer had previously argued that she has "released an incredible amount of data. We have followed the federal requirements. Every step of the way."

However, Lucido is not the only person investigating Whitmer's nursing home policies. Dana Nessel, the state's Democratic attorney general, is also reportedly looking into the situation.

Republican politicians led by State Sen. Jim Runestad are also calling for an investigation into Whitmer's nursing home policies, comparing her actions to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is now facing potential impeachment after it was revealed that his office lied about nursing home deaths.

"Gov. Whitmer's regional hub policy placed patients with and without COVID-19 in the same facilities and may have exacerbated the death toll in those facilities," Runestad said last month.

Unlike Cuomo, however, no evidence or admissions have been revealed suggesting that coronavirus deaths have been undercounted in Michigan.