‘We didn’t stop to think about it’: Michigan Governor Whitmer apologizes for flouting her own Covid-19 rules when dining out

The governor of Michigan apologized for not sticking to the Covid-19 social-distancing guidelines after she was seen dining out with friends in a crowded bar. She claimed she forgot about the rules because she was vaccinated.

Lockdown-championing Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was called out for hypocrisy after a photo of her huddling together with 12 other people at a table in a bar in East Lansing, Michigan surfaced on social media. The image was shared by Detroit journalist Chad Livengood, who said it was posted on Facebook on Saturday but has since been deleted.

The seating arrangement in the photo is in direct violation of Michigan’s strict social-distancing rules for dining establishments, which currently allow a maximum of six people to sit at one table. In addition, tables cannot be moved together and should be at least six feet apart from each other.

Caught red-handed, Whitmer released a statement, apologizing for the blunder, adding that she did not think about being in violation of her own Covid-19 policies as more people arrived in the restaurant and “the tables were pushed together.”

“Because we were all vaccinated, we didn’t stop to think about it,” the governor said, adding that it was a mistake on her part.

The apology did little to shield her from criticism. Some said the rules were nonsensical to begin with, but blasted Whitmer for putting herself above the law that she herself championed.

“No one is against having fun. We are against your rules that never seem to apply to you,” one person said. Another poked fun at Whitmer’s attempt at damage-control: “I hope every lawyer will use this defense when fighting her idiotic fines for their clients.”

It’s not the first time Whitmer has courted controversy for not practicing what she preaches. Last month, it was revealed that she took a personal trip to Florida while her government was warning constituents against traveling to the Sunshine State for spring break. Whitmer’s communications director defended the trip, saying she was helping her ailing father there. Apart from Whitmer, at least two of her senior advisers faced backlash after they were spotted hitting the beaches outside the state, in Florida and Alabama.

Whitmer dismissed the reports as “partisan hit jobs” on her team.

This week, the governor announced a two-step plan to lift the remaining Covid-19 restrictions. From June 1, there will no longer be limits on outdoor capacity, while indoor gatherings will stay at 50% capacity, and unvaccinated people will have to wear masks until July 1. From July 1 onwards, the remaining caps on capacity will go. While there won’t be a state-wide mask mandate from that date, businesses and workplaces will still have the right to require masks.

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