Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer avoided defending Attorney General Dana Nessel when confronted about Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s alleged anti-Semitic remarks. During a CNN interview on “State of the Union,” host Jake Tapper asked Whitmer about the situation involving Tlaib’s criticism of Nessel, who had charged several far-left protesters at the University of Michigan with crimes like ethnic intimidation and obstructing police. Tlaib accused Nessel of bias in favor of Israel, pointing to her Jewish background as influencing her decision to prosecute the protesters.
Nessel strongly condemned Tlaib’s remarks, calling them anti-Semitic and asserting that her religion should not be used to question her ability to perform her duties as attorney general fairly. Despite this, Whitmer refused to take sides, stressing that she was focused on ensuring that all communities are respected and protected under Michigan law. When Tapper pressed her further on whether she would defend Nessel, Whitmer doubled down on her neutral position, saying she didn’t want to insert herself into the argument between Tlaib and Nessel.
Whitmer’s reluctance to condemn Tlaib has sparked criticism from some who see it as a failure to defend her attorney general from what many view as an anti-Semitic attack. Meanwhile, the controversy has drawn further attention to tensions within the Democratic Party over Israel and Palestine, with Tlaib remaining a prominent voice critical of Israel’s policies. The governor’s decision to avoid explicitly backing Nessel, despite the attorney general’s clear response to Tlaib’s accusations, has raised questions about Whitmer’s approach to navigating these internal disputes within her party.
