Whitmer's Florida Trip Subject Of IRS Complaint Filed Wednesday

LANSING, MI — A conservative group has filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service over how she funded a March flight taken by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to Florida to visit her chronically ill father.

Eric Ventimiglia, the executive director of Michigan Rising Action, filed the complaint with the IRS on Wednesday. Whitmer's trip to Florida — which was paid for primarily by the nonprofit organization Michigan Transition 2019 — was not tax-exempt and should not have been funded by the non-profit, according to the complaint, which was acquired by The Detroit News.

"The Governor’s personal trip to visit her family in Florida is not within the exempt purpose of
Michigan Transition 2019, and the organization’s payment for the Governor’s chartered flight was a private benefit to Governor Whitmer," Ventimiglia wrote in the complaint. "In light of these facts, we encourage you to investigate whether Michigan Transition 2019 has violated the Internal Revenue Code, and if so, to take appropriate action, including the assessment of any appropriate penalties."

Read More: Whitmer's Trip To Florida Was Funded Primarily By Nonprofit: Memo

Whitmer visited her father from March 12-15. She left on a private plane on March 12, spending March 13-14 in their entirety in Florida and returning to Michigan on March 15.

The trip was funded through a more than $27,000 payment from Michigan Transition 2019, with Whitmer paying the balance of about $850 for her seat, according to public donor and expense reports.

Whitmer's office on Friday disclosed how her trip to Florida was paid for following weeks of criticism by Republican officials.

Whitmer's office said a decision was made to use a chartered flight for the trip due to ongoing security and public health concerns. Leading up to the disclosure on Friday, her administration had said the date she traveled to Florida had not been released after the fact for security reasons.

"The governor's flight was not a gift, not paid for at taxpayer expense, and was done in compliance with the law," an internal memo released last week reads.

Read More: Whitmer Criticized For Traveling Out Of State During Pandemic