Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer apparently lost her connection at least twice during virtual media interviews.
In both cases, the Democrat said she could no longer hear interviewers at the exact moment she was pressed about a number of uncomfortable issues — including the Hunter Biden trial and criticism of her response to COVID-19.
Hunter, 54, was found guilty this week of three felonies related to the 2018 firearm purchase.
Whitmer is co-chair of President Joe Biden’s 2024 campaign and is considered a voice for his reelection efforts.
She was shortlisted to be his running mate in 2020. She was also considered someone who could be the Democratic presidential nominee in November in the event that Biden did not run for re-election.
Speaking in a virtual interview with CNN on Sunday, Whitmer claimed she began to lose connection the moment State of the Union host Dana Bash asked her to respond to the guilty verdict against Biden’s son.
Michigan Democrat Governor Gretchen Whitmer appeared to conveniently lose her audio connection during a virtual interview on Sunday when asked about Hunter Biden’s gun trial
Hunter Biden was found guilty of three felonies related to a 2018 firearm purchase in which he lied about his drug use. Pictured: Hunter and wife Melissa Cohen Biden arrive at court on June 11
“Hunter Biden – he is on trial for obtaining and possessing a firearm while under the influence of illegal drugs, which was against the law. Republican Lindsey Graham says “an average American wouldn’t have been prosecuted for this,” Bash began, but was cut off by the governor.
“Dana, are you there?” Whitmer asked as a faint chime could be heard in the background. It looked like she was looking at an assistant off camera.
“Yes, Governor. Can you hear me?’ Bash asked before adding, “Okay, it sounds like the governor can’t hear me. We’re going to take a very short commercial break and fix this, and we’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.’
Whitmer’s state is critical to the 2024 presidential election.
Michigan is a swing state that turned red for Donald Trump by a 0.3 percent margin in 2020 and blue for Biden in 2020 by a 2.8 percent margin.
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Speaking to Fox 2 Detroit earlier, Whitmer suddenly said she could no longer hear when asked about her record in dealing with COVID-19 in Michigan.
Whitmer has previously said she lost audio connection during virtual interviews when she was pressured over criticism of her policies — including the above interview with Fox 2 Detroit when she was asked about her record on handling the COVID -19 pandemic
“When it comes to your handling of the pandemic, we all know the critics of recent years. Do you have any regrets and is this – ?’ the anchor began asking the governor in the virtual interview.
“I’m sorry,” Whitmer interjected as he touched the earpiece and it appeared she or an off-camera assistant said, “Oh, s***.”
“Can you hear me well?” asked the anchor. “Did you give me governor?”
“Did I do that when I touched that thing?” Whitmer asked the off-camera assistant, explaining, “It started falling out.”
“No, it’s okay,” the assistant replied.
As governor of a purple state, Whitmer has drawn criticism for her response to the COVID-19 pandemic, being one of the most restrictive in the country.