Setting the Record Straight
Republicans are spreading false claims about Jocelyn Benson and her family. Here's the truth.
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FACT:
Jocelyn was one of the first gubernatorial candidates to release a strict set of guardrails on data centers and corporations who want to do business in Michigan.
The guardrails will mandate:
Public hearings to ensure projects do not go through without residents having the opportunity to share their concerns.
Transparency and disclosure reporting to ensure no backdoor deals that exclude communities.
Requiring developers to prove prior to construction that the data center will not abuse natural resources – from water to land.
Data centers bear the cost of additional energy usage. Not the consumer.
Union contracts that ensure the creation of well-paying jobs.
Jocelyn's family has not made any money from data centers. Period.
The attacks are based on a lie that has been thoroughly debunked. Her husband’s employer, Related Companies, has unequivocally stated:
"Mr. Friedrichs has never had any role in the financing of Related Digital's project and makes no commission from it. Any claims to the contrary are 100% false."
As Secretary of State, Jocelyn exceeded Michigan's financial disclosure requirements by voluntarily reporting additional information about both her own and her husband's finances. Those disclosures make clear these allegations are false.
Ryan Friedrichs is not working on any Michigan data center projects.
Ryan has already recused himself from any state-related work that could come before a Benson administration.
He is currently focused on affordable housing projects in other states.
The Saline project was approved under the current Whitmer Administration.
Jocelyn Benson had no involvement in authorizing, financing, or developing the project.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Jocelyn's family has not profited from data centers.
Ryan Friedrichs is not working on Michigan data center projects and has recused himself from any state-related work.
The Saline project was approved by the current administration, not a Benson administration.
Jocelyn has gone beyond Michigan's ethics and disclosure requirements by voluntarily providing additional financial transparency.