Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) is facing duel losses in court regarding her COVID-19 restrictions. She was also the subject of a kidnapping plot spurred by her actions during the pandemic.
Looking back, Whitmer says she does not regret her actions during the pandemic.
During an appearance on ABC’s “The View” on Tuesday, Whitmer was asked if she believed that her restrictions were too harsh.
“No, I wouldn’t change a thing,” she said. “Studies have shown that the actions we took saved thousands of Michigan lives. I sleep at night knowing that what we did saved people in this state.”
Whitmer also blasted the Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling and accused the judges of engaging in “mental gymnastics” in its ruling against her extension of the restrictions.
Watch the video below:
Gov. @gretchenwhitmer defends the COVID-19 restrictions she put in place in Michigan, saying she “wouldn’t change a thing” after some have called for more relaxed measures: “Studies have shown that the actions we took saved thousands of Michigan lives.” https://t.co/cVclFZQmjA pic.twitter.com/Wmc5n6oJnX
— The View (@TheView) October 13, 2020
On Apr. 30, Whitmer issued an executive order to extend her emergency declaration — after the Republican controlled-legislature tried to pass legislation that would not have extended the declaration.
However, on Oct. 2, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that Whitmer did not have the authority to extend the order, which led to the end of statewide COVID-19 restrictions. And on Monday, the court rejected her request to delay the decision.
Last week, the FBI announced that it arrested militia members who were allegedly planning to kidnap Whitmer because they detested government and her COVID-19 restrictions.
Hours after news of the arrests broke, Whitmer implied that President Donald Trump was “complicit” in the plot. At a press conference, she said, “Just last week, the President of the United States stood before the American people and refused to condemn white supremacists and hate groups like these two Michigan militia groups.”
In case you missed it:
#BREAKING: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer slams Trump in response to kidnapping plot: "'Stand back and stand by.' Hate groups heard the President's words not as a rebuke, but as a rallying cry. As a call to action." pic.twitter.com/c0U5HdAh1T
— The Hill (@thehill) October 8, 2020
“‘Stand back and stand by,’ he told them. ‘Stand back and stand by.’ Hate groups heard the President’s words not as a rebuke, but as a rallying cry. As a call to action. When our leaders speak, their words matter. They carry weight. When our leaders meet with, encourage, or fraternize with domestic terrorists, they legitimize their actions, and they are complicit,” she continued.
Trump fired back, “My Justice Department and Federal Law Enforcement announced today that they foiled a dangerous plot against the Governor of Michigan. Rather than say thank you, she calls me a White Supremacist.”