How The Whitmer Admin Tried To Hide Critical Health Information From the Public

Key advisers to the Whitmer Administration used coded messages with the Executive Office of the Governor to conceal from FOIA their criticisms of the Administration’s response to the Benton Harbor water crisis.

KEY PLAYERS

Kara Cook, Senior Adviser to Gov. Whitmer (EOG)

DHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel

Andy Leavitt, consultant to EOG; former Chief of Staff to Congressman Dan Kildee and key player in 2013 Flint Water Crisis

Andy Draheim, EGLE Chief of Staff

The story so far:

In an email that appears as an exhibit in a civil suit before the Western District Court of Michigan (1) filed by residents of Benton Harbor against Gov. Whitmer for her handling of the Benton Harbor water crisis, an outside consultant inserts a bizarre string of letters into the beginning of his email [emphasis added by researcher]:

(1) Braziel et al v. Whitmer et al, 1:2021cv00960, “Braziel Plaintiffs’ Objections To The Magistrate Judge’s Recommendations,” Filed 6/15/23

It appears to be English words, disguised in Greek letters – and according to the lawsuit, that’s exactly what it is.

According to the suit (2), the text reads: “Hot off the presses. As I warned there are some major red flags. It seems like we are back at square one having not learned from Flint.”

(2) Braziel et al v. Whitmer et al, 1:2021cv00960, “Braziel Plaintiffs’ Objections To The Magistrate Judge’s Recommendations,” Filed 6/15/23, p. 7

The email then goes on at length (in plain English) to list all the way in which a pamphlet for residents of Benton Harbor – devised by the Whitmer Administration – fails to advise residents of how dangerous their water is. (3)

(3) Braziel et al v. Whitmer et al, 1:2021cv00960, “Braziel Plaintiffs’ Objections To The Magistrate Judge’s Recommendations,” Filed 6/15/23, p. 8-9

It is clear from the length of Leavitt’s coded text and the fact that close adviser to Gov. Whitmer, Kara Cook, forwards the email to then- EGLE Chief of Staff Andy Draheim without commenting on Leavitt’s strange texts – instead, simply saying “A lot more.” – that Whitmer’s top brass were accustomed to seeing and reading this code. (4)

(4) Braziel et al v. Whitmer et al, 1:2021cv00960, “Braziel Plaintiffs’ Objections To The Magistrate Judge’s Recommendations,” Filed 6/15/23, p. 8

So why code messages this way? And how do you do it?

First, THE WHY. FOIA's were initially attempted for emails sent using 5 simple terms written in Greek letters: ανδ, ιτ, αρε, τηε, Φλιντ. Translated into English, they represent the words “and,” “it,” “are,” “the,” and “Flint.” The request was denied on the grounds that DTMB could not complete the search without exorbitant cost. (see image below)

This is because until a July 2023 software update, email records written in special characters could not be searched for using Microsoft Outlook’s native search bar. Instead (again, see below) an individual requesting public records must know exactly what characters to search for.

This means that a member of the public seeking coded emails would have to know the exact sender, recipient and date the email was sent to find it, effectively evading Michigan’s primary transparency law and disguising emails from public view.

Second, the HOW. It’s a lot easier than you think. Simply Google “turn words into greek characters” and an easy to use website appears as the third hit: TypeGreek.com

Using this website all the user has to do is type normally into the window and the coded text appears. The site also supplies a legend describing which Greek letter corresponds to English letters. To see an example, play the video below, or go to TypeGreek.com

(Accessed 8/8/23)

This scandal is just the most recent example of Governor Whitmer’s desire to deceive and withhold information from the very people she should be transparent with: the citizens of this state.

Whitmer’s Failed Track Record on Transparency

Whitmer has a pattern of promising government transparency while simultaneously breaking that promise to protect her image and future aspirations. A few examples include: