Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Wednesday that no evidence of criminal conduct was found following the department's investigation into a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 contact-tracing contract.
According to a press release from the AG's office, the investigation was launched at the request of Michigan State Senator Jim Runestad in April regarding allegations that the MDHHS "unlawfully directed the procurement of a contract for COVID-19 contact-tracing to an alleged political ally."
The AG's office said their team conducted multiple interviews with 17 people and reviewed thousands of documentation as part of the investigation. The office also noted that Sen. Runestad did not provide any information or evidence to further the investigation after his request.
“I appreciate the concern raised by Sen. Runestad but I also appreciate the reality under which this contract was pursued,” said Nessel in a press release. “With the benefit of hindsight, there may have been a better way to accomplish the Department’s ultimate purpose but we found no evidence of criminality. Instead, it appears the imperfect process used here was mainly a result of the Department’s attempt to get a contact-tracing program underway as quickly as possible in light of the dire public health crisis.”
The full report can be read here:
Contact tracing report by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd
