LANSING, Mich. (AP) 鈥� A man dressed in black who works for a group specializing in opposition research about Democrats was stopped while climbing a bluff near Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer鈥檚 summer residence in August, according to a police report obtained by The Associated Press.
The man, whose name was redacted in the document, said he worked as a 鈥減olitical tracker鈥� for America Rising. The police report links to two websites as potential employers, one at an America Rising corporation and one for an America Rising political action committee.
The man said he was 鈥渃limbing the hill to get a 鈥榲iew up here鈥� when he was stopped Aug. 26. When members of the Executive Protection Section advised there was no view to see where he was at, (the man) stated, 鈥業 guess I鈥檓 leaving now,鈥欌�� state police said.
The mansion on Mackinac Island is a summer residence for a Michigan governor in office. It's on a bluff overlooking the Straits of Mackinac, according to the island's tourism office.
The island is a unique summer destination for tourists with arrival possible only by boat or small private plane. Cars are not allowed.
Police followed up with an interview at the man's apartment on Sept. 12.
The man said he had no plan to harm Whitmer, a Democrat, and simply wanted to take photos of 鈥減olitical figures鈥� who might be visiting with her outdoors, according to the report.
The man said he didn鈥檛 know he couldn鈥檛 be there 鈥渂ecause there were no signs posted,鈥� Det. Sgt. Aaron Sitko wrote.
The governor's team would not confirm whether she was at the island residence on Aug. 26, citing security concerns.
State police spokeswoman Lori Dougovito said Tuesday that the investigation was closed without the man being charged, though the area is a no-trespassing zone. She didn't elaborate on the decision.
Separately, the state police director, Col. James Grady II, said: 鈥淲e are monitoring this situation to understand the scope of the individual鈥檚 intentions and connections to any known previous or ongoing threats against all government officials.鈥�
Whitmer was the target of a in 2020. Nine people were convicted at trial or pleaded guilty.
Her chief of staff said the August incident on Mackinac Island was considered 鈥渆xtremely serious,鈥� in light of the previous criminal cases.
鈥淭he governor deserves the right to safety and privacy,鈥� JoAnne Huls said.
America Rising told the AP that the man hasn't worked there for about a month. Spokesman Jahan Wilcox didn't indicate whether he had quit or was fired.
鈥淎merica Rising has clear and stated policies to ensure appropriate behavior of our employees and we take those policies seriously,鈥� Wilcox said in an email.
State police learned that the man had been confronted at political events in the past.
In July, in Brighton, Michigan, the man was questioned after 鈥減osing as media and attempting to gain entry into the building鈥� at an event featuring Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin and U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, police said.
The man said he was unhappy with Slotkin and 鈥渨anted to call her out,鈥� police said.
Joey Cappelletti And Ed White, The Associated Press
