Dem donor’s massive taxpayer-funded payday blows up into felony case roiling state politics

By Fox News · Fox News

Michigan ’s attorney general, a Democrat, announced 16 felony charges against major Democratic donor Fay Beydoun on Wednesday, alleging that she used a $20 million state grant to enrich herself. State records cited by investigators said Beydoun’s company received an initial $10 million deposit on April 1, 2023, from a $20 million state grant intended to attract more business activity to Michigan. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel alleges Beydoun instead used grant funds for personal enrichment, including maintaining a $550,000 annual salary. "Today, we allege Fay Beydoun sought and received a $20 million ‘Michigan enhancement grant’ from the state Legislature, operated a criminal enterprise to use those funds for personal expenses and her own enrichment, and lied repeatedly when reporting how she used those funds," Nessel said of the charges. EXCLUSIVE: HOUSE GOP REPORT ALLEGES $20B GREEN GRANTS ENRICHED BIDEN ALLIES "The process by which this ‘grant’ was proposed, developed, awarded, and administered bears practically zero semblance to the traditional grant process, and was only made possible through a system that pairs political cronyism with minimal oversight," Nessel continued. LEFT-WING ACTIVISTS HECKLE PRO-ISRAEL DEMOCRAT HALEY STEVENS AT MICHIGAN CONVENTION The charges have also created political fallout in Michigan because Beydoun was a donor to Democratic candidates and committees after her company received the grant. The criminal complaint does not allege that any candidate or committee knew of the alleged misuse of grant funds. Federal records show that Beydoun donated well over $50,000 to various Democratic campaign committees following the grant in April 2023. Notable Democrats to receive donations from Beydoun include Michigan Senate frontrunner Rep. Haley Stevens and Sen. Elissa Slotkin, as well as Reps. Hillary Scholten and Kristen McDonald Rivet, both of whom are defending toss-up House seats. "Congresswoman Scholten’s campaign received $1,000…