Capitol News

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer described her husband's perceived request for special treatment as a failed attempt at humor.

The incident happened at a time Whitmer’s stay-at-home order was in effect in which a willful violation is a misdemeanor.

Whitmer’s husband, Marc Mallory, was said to have requested Northshore Dock LLC to get his boat in the water before the Memorial Day weekend. According to Northshore Dock's owner's Facebook page —which has since been removed — when Mallory was told by staff they couldn't comply, Mallory said, "I am the husband to the governor," and asked whether that would make a difference, the Detroit Free Press reported. 

"He thought it might get a laugh," Whitmer said of her husband at a news conference. "It didn't, and to be honest I wasn't laughing either when it was relayed to me because I knew how it would be perceived."

Whitmer has received much disapproval on the incident including from Michigan Republican State Party Chairwoman Laura Cox, who released the following statement:

"Using your wife's political office to score favors is not a laughing matter," Cox, said. "How many times has Governor Whitmer's husband told this 'joke' to gain special favors from businesses? The only joke here is that Governor Whitmer doesn’t seem to understand how serious it is for a family member to misuse your office.”