LANSING, Mich. — Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt on Monday took decisive action in calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s role in a $20 million taxpayer-funded grant scandal that has already led to criminal charges filed against her close ally and political donor.

“Michigan deserves a governor who works for everyone in this state, not favored cronies who fund her lifestyle and campaigns,” said Nesbitt, R-Porter Township. “Let me be clear: if the governor is found complicit in this scheme to rob taxpayers, she must be held accountable under the law. We are going to follow the money, uncover the truth and deliver justice for the taxpayers of this state.”

Earlier this month, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office charged Metro Detroit businesswoman Fay Beydoun with 16 criminal charges related to how she spent a $20 million Michigan Economic Development Corporation grant. The charges against the former Whitmer MEDC appointee and fundraiser include larceny by conversion, uttering and publishing, and conducting a criminal enterprise — a felony punishable by up to 20 years.

Citing a well-documented personal friendship between Nessel and Whitmer, Nesbitt took the extraordinary step of appealing directly to Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche to request a federal investigation.

“Under normal circumstances, state-level authorities should handle such matters. However, Michigan faces a unique crisis of oversight,” Nesbitt wrote in a letter to Blanche. “This relationship creates an inherent conflict of interest that calls into question whether the Michigan attorney general can impartially investigate the governor.”

Nesbitt’s request continues his ongoing commitment to ruthlessly root out waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars and hold criminals accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

“The era of the Lansing swamp insiders protecting their own at the expense of honest hardworking families is over,” Nesbitt said. “It doesn’t matter how powerful you are, who your friends are or what title is on your office door — if you steal from Michigan taxpayers, you must face the consequences. Period.”