A businesswoman is accused of stealing funds and fraudulently administering a $20 million state grant that Michigan Democrat Gov. Gretchen approved. 

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced this week 16 felony charges against Fay Beydoun, 62, of Farmington Hills. Beydoun is accused of misusing a $20 million grant meant to start a business accelerator, The Detroit News reported. 

Beydoun is well-connected in Michigan's Democratic political scene, and she collected contributions from other donors in support of Whitmer's campaign. She also personally donated $7,150 to the Democratic governor's campaign in 2019. 

A spokesperson for Whitmer told The Detroit News that "misuse of taxpayer dollars has no plance in" the Michigan capitol and that anyone receiving taxpayer funds is required to use those funds according to the law.

"If that does not happen and someone defrauds the state, they must be held accountable under the law," the spokesperson said. 

Beydoun faces one count of conducting a criminal enterprise, seven counts of uttering and publishing, one count of forgery and seven counts of larceny, according to ABC affiliate 12News.