Updates About Press Releases

Attorney General Dana Nessel announced last week that southeast Michigan businesswoman Fay Beydoun has been charged with alleged theft of $20 million in legislative grant money that was awarded to her company, Global Link International, during Fiscal Year 2023.

The grant was awarded as Michigan Enhancement Grant to establish Beydoun’s company as a business accelerator for the state. Instead, Beydoun allegedly used the funds for increasing her salary, buying expensive coffee makers and luxury foreign rugs, and taking international trips while the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) continued giving Global Link International the grant funding. At the time, Beydoun also served on the MEDC Executive Committee. In a recent press release, AG Nessel, suspected that Beydoun’s company did not assist any businesses in relocating to Michigan.

Beydoun faces 16 felony counts, the most serious being one count of conducting a criminal enterprise, a 20-year felony. She also faces seven counts of uttering and publishing (14-year felony); one count of forgery (14-year felony); one count of larceny by conversion more than $20,000 (10-year felony); and six counts of larceny by conversion $1,000 to $20,000 (5-year felony).

The Attorney General terminated the grant and froze the remaining $6.3 million that has yet to be spent, though no update has been provided on recovering the remainder. An arraignment date has not yet been set.

Last week, House Majority Floor Leader Byran Posthumus (R-Rockford) unexpectedly announced that he will not be seeking reelection to keep his seat in the next cycle.

In his statement, he wrote that he only planned to serve three terms after deciding to run in 2020. Posthumus was elected by his colleagues twice to serve as the House Floor Leader in his last two terms. By announcing his decision now, he hopes this will give sufficient time for a quality candidate to run in 2026.

Like Posthumus, his successor will represent the 90th House District. This northern Kent County district also encompasses the city of Rockford and the townships of Algoma, Alpine, Cannon, Courtland, Grattan, Plainfield, Sparta, Tyrone, and Vergennes.

Posthumus described his time in office as a privilege, saying it was an honor to serve both Kent County and the people of Michigan. He praised colleagues from both parties for what they were able to accomplish during his tenure. He also emphasized that despite their differences, both sides share a common goal of helping Michigan and its residents.

Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II announced recently that he is dropping out from the Gubernatorial race where he has been campaigning for the spot as Michigan’s next Democratic Governor, alongside frontrunner and current Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.

After bowing out of the race for Governor, Gilchrist announced that he is now seeking his party’s nomination for Secretary of State. His new opponents, Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum and former Michigan Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli, both criticized his decision in statements made on social media. Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie responded by exiting the race and has since endorsed Gilchrist, urging party unity while also admitting that Gilchrist’s entry shrunk his own path to victory.