Nessel: 'Deeply Concerned' By MEDC's 'Deeply Troubling' Conduct During Investigation

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 08/11/2025) Attorney General Dana Nessel told WDIV "Flashpoint" on Sunday that she is "deeply concerned" by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s (MEDC) conduct, which she described as "deeply troubling," during an investigation into a $20 million grant.

Nessel suggested that the quasi-private, quasi-public agency "shouldn't receive any funds at all" until better oversight is implemented considering MEDC has "stonewalled" her department's investigation into grant spending by Fay Beydoun and her Global Link International.

"The Governor's not a target of this investigation, but we are deeply concerned about what we're seeing from the MEDC," Nessel said, noting that her department is learning "new things" about the agency.

The investigation followed The Detroit News' April 2024 report that the taxpayer-funded grant had been used to buy a $4,500 coffee maker and a $13,000 plane ticket to Europe for a conference.

At the time of the grant, Beydoun, a former Democratic Party vice chair, was Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's appointee to the MEDC executive committee.

After Beydoun's spending made headlines, Whitmer distanced herself from Beydoun, and subsequently dropped her from the MEDC committee.

Nessel contrasted the MEDC's behavior – including fighting in court over the release of documents under the AG's investigative subpoenas – in the Beydoun situation to a grant misappropriation incident involving the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, noting the latter department monitored the grant funds and immediately notified the AG's office as well other entities, including the Office of Inspector General, when things seemed awry.

Nessel was also asked about Whitmer's recent appointment of former senior advisor Shaquila Myers to the Michigan Public Service Commission.

It's been reported that Myers used her chief of staff position in former House Speaker Joe TATE (D-Detroit)'s office to help the utilities.

"It’s a concern because she replaced a board member we thought cared deeply about consumers and also about environmental concerns," she said. "We know that there was a lot of proposed legislation when Joe Tate was speaker that would have, you know, held the utilities accountable and would have made sure that you couldn't see this endless escalation year after year."

Nessel was also asked if she's made political plans when she leaves office.

She initially replied, "No, I can't answer that question," saying she has an important job and doesn't want to distract from her "day job."

"But, I've not … ," Nessel started to say before the host interrupted her.