by A man dressed in black, who works for a group that specializes in investigating opposition Democrats, was stopped while climbing a bluff near Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's summer home in August, according to a police report obtained by The Associated Press .
The man, whose name was given in the document, said he worked as a “political tracker” for America Rising, a political action committee that works to support Republicans.
He said he was “going up the hill to get a ‘view up here'” when he was stopped on August 26. When members of the Executive Protection Division advised that there was no line of sight to see where he was, (the man) stated, “I guess I'm leaving now,” state police said.
The mansion on Mackinac Island is a summer residence for every Michigan governor in office. It is located “on a bluff overlooking the Straits of Mackinac,” according to the island's tourism office.
Police continued to interview the man at his apartment on September 12.
The man said he had no plans to harm Whitmer and just wanted to take pictures of “politicians” who might be visiting her outdoors, according to the report.
The man said he didn't know he couldn't be there “because there were no signs posted,” Det. Sgt. wrote Aaron Sitko.
The governor's team would not confirm whether he was at the Mackinac Island residence on Aug. 26, citing security concerns.
State police spokeswoman Lori Dugovito said Tuesday that the investigation has been closed.
Separately, state police director Col. James Grady II said: “We are monitoring this situation to understand the scope of the individual's intentions and connections to any known past or ongoing threats against all government officials.”
Whitmer was the target of a kidnapping plot in 2020. Nine people were convicted at trial or pleaded guilty. Five were acquitted.
Her chief of staff said the August incident on Mackinac Island was considered “extremely serious” in light of the previous criminal cases.
“The governor deserves the right to safety and privacy,” said JoAnne Huls.
America Rising did not respond to questions from the AP.
State police learned the man had been involved in political events in the past.
In July, in Brighton, Michigan, the man was questioned after he “impersonated media and attempted to enter the building” at an event attended by Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin and U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, police said.
The man said he “wanted to ask her out,” police said.
