Gov. Whitmer Responds to Husband's Attempt at Special Treatment

Governor Gretchen Whitmer responded to tongue-in-cheek comments made by her husband last week, saying it was just a failed attempt at humor.

A Northern Michigan boating company posted on social media last week that Whitmer's husband, Dr. Marc Mallory, asked if being married to the governor of Michigan would help him move up the line, in order to get his boat in the water sooner. Michigan was experiencing a long backlog of boaters who were hoping get their watercraft in the water in time for the Memorial Day weekend.

“I do feel compelled to address the most recent [story] about my husband, Marc,” Whitmer said. "My husband made a failed attempt at humor last week when checking in with the small business that helps with our boat up north, knowing it wouldn’t make a difference. He jokingly asked if being married to me might move him up in the queue."

Whitmer said her husband's comment was simply a joke -- not a serious attempt to get special treatment.

“Obviously, with the motorized boating prohibition in our early days of COVID-19, he thought it might get a laugh,” Whitmer said. “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. He regrets it. I wish it wouldn’t have happened, and that’s really all we have to say about it.”

We all say stupid things, from time to time. I do it on a daily basis.

Nothing to see here, people. Move on.