Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) chose not to attend a funeral for a police officer who was killed in the line of duty, opting instead to personally join President Joe Biden at a White House meeting with other Democratic governors. Whitmer’s communications director, Bobby Leddy, confirmed her attendance at the closed-door session, which took place on Wednesday. This suggests that Whitmer prioritized attending the crisis meeting in Washington D.C., over mourning the loss of Michigan police officer William “Bill” Butler Jr.
Butler, 51, was fatally shot during a shootout with a suspect who had several outstanding warrants. His funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m. at the Hillsdale College Christ Chapel, with the procession beginning between 12:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.
According to WTVB, numerous local law enforcement officers were present at the funeral, with delegations from various departments attending to honor Butler’s sacrifice and support his fellow officers. Whitmer is not alone in seemingly prioritizing Biden’s re-election campaign over other commitments – California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) also left the state during an ongoing wildfire emergency to join Biden.
Other Democratic governors attending the White House meeting included Walz, Newsom, Pritzker, Beshear, Healey, Hochul, and Moore. Some of these governors attended virtually, while others chose to attend in person. Whitmer’s decision not to attend Butler’s funeral has raised questions about her priorities during this challenging time for law enforcement officers and their families.
Biden made a surprise appearance on a Democratic National Committee (DNC) call, where he confirmed that he is running for re-election and will not be leaving the race. He emphasized his commitment to the campaign, stating, “I am running. no one’s pushing me out. I’m not leaving. I’m in this race to the end, and we’re going to win.” This announcement comes as Whitmer’s absence from Butler’s funeral has drawn criticism from some quarters.