Over the weekend, Governor Gretchen Whitmer was spotted at an East Lansing bar with about a dozen people at a table, directly disregarding the state’s limit of just six people at a single table.
Whitmer apologized for the mistake in a statement Sunday, saying, “Throughout the pandemic, I’ve been committed to following public health protocols. Yesterday, I went with friends to a local restaurant. As more people arrived, the tables were pushed together. Because we were all vaccinated, we didn’t stop to think about it. In retrospect, I should have thought about it. I am human. I made a mistake, and I apologize.”
Monday, she was in Grand Rapids for a pair of stops and was asked about the incident again by reporters.
“You know what? I made a mistake,” said Whitmer, “I own up to it. I recognize it now. It was unintentional.”
A picture of the governor and about 12 friends was posted online Sunday and shared around the internet.
“When leaders ,whether they are officeholders or leaders in at the local level or my children for that matter, when you make mistakes, fess up to it and do better,” said Whitmer.
Much of the reaction online had been if she can break the rules, why are they there in the first place?
“Over the last year and a half, we’ve seen there’s always a push back,”” said Whitmer, “In this environment there is no making everyone happy on any issue. Gathering with people that are all fully vaccinated, whether you’re inside or outside, is a safe thing to do.”
In fact, the rule has changed. Starting June 1st, the industry specific MIOSHA guidelines have been lifted, including the six person table limit. Still many call for consequences for Whitmer, like businesses that broke rules during the pandemic. She says that is not the case here.
“We have specifically not gone forward with and penalized businesses who are trying to do the right thing,” said Whitmer, “It’s those that have flouted the rules and put people’s safety at risk, they are the most concerning.”
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