Amid GOP backlash to Gotion plant, exec rebukes conspiracy of ‘communist plot’ in Massive Rapids

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in October signed a bipartisan supplemental spending invoice together with tax breaks for a number of firms that vowed to spend money on Michigan, together with Gotion.

“I’m proud that Republicans and Democrats labored throughout the aisle to construct up our financial growth toolkit and empowered Michigan to compete for each challenge and each job,” Whitmer mentioned in an October assertion. “Collectively, we are going to proceed profitable investments on this area and turn out to be the preeminent vacation spot for electrical automobile and mobility firms. We’ll work with anybody and compete with everybody to maintain bringing provide chains of batteries, chips, and electrical automobiles dwelling to Michigan.”

Among the many first GOP figures to start out claiming Gotion is tied to the CCP in an effort to strain Whitmer and native leaders to again out of the deal was then-GOP gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon. Now a podcast host following her 2022 election loss, Dixon has repeatedly pushed the claims on Twitter, typically calling Gotion a “nationwide safety menace.”

The “communism scare,” Thelen mentioned throughout the digital panel dialogue Wednesday, doesn’t have “any foundation in reality in any way.” He added that by no means earlier than in his years serving the corporate has he encountered accusations of a communist plot, or heard another Gotion leaders across the nation categorical a pro-CCP place.

He additionally debunked the rumor that Gotion plans to usher in 11,000 Chinese language nationals to run the Michigan plant, confirming as a substitute that native hires shall be prioritized, whereas roughly 20 to 50 Gotion staff will initially assist with coaching earlier than departing.

“I’m slated to be plant supervisor, and I can guarantee you, I’m not a communist,” Thelen mentioned.

Though the plant isn’t slated to be in-built Muskegon County, the county GOP referred to as on folks to protest on the Wednesday assembly earlier than it was moved to the digital format. After it was moved on-line, Muskegon County GOP mentioned there have been nonetheless plans in place to protest from the sidewalk outdoors.

“We have to present up in HUGE numbers to let the elected officers know we don’t want the communist enterprise right here,” reads the March 29 put up titled, “Floor Zero; The Communist Take-Over In Michigan.”

The Muskegon County Republican Occasion didn’t reply to a request for remark.

Nevertheless, GOP lawmakers, together with U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Midland), state Sen. Lana Theis (R-Brighton) and state Rep. Andrew Fink (R-Osseo), have spoken out in opposition to the challenge.

“We haven’t carried out any vetting to make sure this partnership is a smart alternative for our state and our nation, but we’re leaping into mattress with the CCP,” Fink mentioned in a March assertion. 

He added that the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and Division of Protection ought to be referred to as upon to look at the “potential nationwide safety and espionage menace of the brand new crops.”