Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s silence over a city councilman accused of beating up his girlfriend has emerged as a troubling flashpoint in her second term — and one that could undercut her likely White House ambitions.

Leon El-Alamin, who was arrested in July, faces charges of domestic battery and assault for allegedly beating his girlfriend. 

The Flint City councilman once spent a month in a coma after a drug turf war turned violent — it’s a criminal past that was erased under a law Whitmer herself signed.

‘I benefited a lot from the [Clean Slate Act],’ El-Alamin, 45, told the Daily Mail in an interview, ‘and I hope to continue to benefit from it.’

It’s an admission that could come back to haunt Whitmer, who is seen as seriously considering a run for president in 2028.

Whitmer signed the ‘Clean Slate’ law in 2020, which expanded eligibility for wiping criminal records off the books. As a result, El-Alamin’s record of drug trafficking throughout Flint, Michigan, was erased.

At age 30, El-Alamin was released from prison after serving part of a 12- to 20-year sentence for drug and weapons charges. The length of time he spent in prison and the exact charges he was convicted of are unclear, due to Whitmer’s law. 

The expungement paved his path to public office where he remains today — a remarkable trajectory that now appears short-lived.

Leon El-Alamin (pictured right with Whitmer, left) faces charges of domestic battery and assault for allegedly beating his girlfriend

El-Alamin was arrested after his girlfriend claimed he pulled her hair out and choked her

Prior to joining Flint city council, El-Alamin had his entire criminal record, which included drug and weapons charges, expunged by a law signed by Whitmer

Whitmer has not commented on El-Alamin’s arrest, and her office declined to address concerns from Michigan Democrats despite multiple requests from the Daily Mail. 

El-Alamin, however, thanked the governor, offering her an early endorsement if Whitmer runs for president, support that could be raised by her opponents and detractors. 

‘She’s showing true leadership,’ El-Alamin told the Daily Mail when asked about Whitmer’s silence over his criminal charges. ‘The governor’s commitment to justice and rehabilitation should not be undermined by baseless allegations or political maneuvering.

‘It is disheartening to see political opponents attempt to use this situation as a weapon against the governor.’

But Whitmer faces mounting pressure from fellow Democrats urging her to break her silence and call for his resignation.

‘What is she [Whitmer] telling women that have been abused?’ City Councilwoman Jerri Winfrey-Carter told the Daily Mail. ‘You can see clearly by what his charges are that he hasn’t been fully rehabilitated.’

County prosecutors claim that El-Alamin allegedly dragged an unnamed woman by her hair, punched her in the face and choked her after an argument. His accuser told police she locked herself in a bathroom to escape El-Alamin and call 911.

El-Alamin, who is out on bond while he awaits trial, was spotted wearing a police ankle bracelet during a city council meeting following his arrest back in July, according to Michigan Live.

El-Alamin maintained his innocence and denied any wrongdoing.

‘I stand firmly in my innocence,’ he told the Daily Mail. 

Whitmer has not commented on El-Alamin’s arrest, and her office declined to address concerns from Michigan Democrats despite multiple requests from the Daily Mail 

‘I benefited a lot from the [Clean Slate Act],’ El-Alamin told the Daily Mail in an interview, ‘and I hope to continue to benefit from it’

Michael Clack, a former Flint school board member and longtime Democratic operative, now leads ‘Dearly Beloved & Cared For,’ a group supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse in Flint.

When asked if Whitmer should denounce El-Alamin, Clack was clear: ‘I do. It sends a dangerous message to victims and survivors that political favors and friendships can secure special treatment.’

Clack added, ‘If I were one of her rivals, I’d absolutely use this against her. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone runs on this issue five, ten, or even 20 years from now.’

City Councilwoman Tonya Burns, a frequent critic of El-Alamin, agreed that this councilman from a city of less than 80,000 people poses a major threat to Whitmer’s future if left unaddressed.

‘I’m quite sure that Republicans will commit him [El-Alamin] to her [Whitmer] like a chain…any political party would,’ Burns told the Daily Mail.

The silence on El-Alamin’s case extends beyond the governor to Flint Mayor Sheldon Neely, who has refused to condemn him since his recent arrest. 

City officials claim Neely protects El-Alamin because he is part of a loyal council coalition that rubber-stamps the mayor’s agenda.

Winfrey-Carter called their loyalty ‘disgraceful,’ urging representation for survivors of domestic abuse. Janez Jackson, mother of El-Alamin’s accuser, accused Neely of mentoring El-Alamin into politics after Whitmer expunged his record. The mayor’s office ignored multiple Daily Mail requests for comment.

‘What is she [Whitmer] telling women that have been abused?’ Democratic City Councilwoman Jerri Winfrey-Carter told the Daily Mail

City officials claim Neely protects El-Alamin because he is part of a loyal council coalition that rubber-stamps the mayor’s agenda 

When asked if Whitmer should denounce El-Alamin, Clack was clear: ‘I do. It sends a dangerous message to victims and survivors that political favors and friendships can secure special treatment’ 

Since entering the political arena, El-Alamin’s past and public antics have haunted him. During the 2024 city council election, footage emerged of El-Alamin holding a gun at the front of a home while trying to evict a tenant.

El-Alamin claims that the tenant illegally changed the door locks and set up the security camera during the eviction. The footage show El-Alamin wielding a Draco semiautomatic pistol while approaching the property.

Since the Whitmer law expunged his record, El-Alamin is legally allowed to carry a firearm, even though he spent time in prison for gun-related crimes.

While speaking to members of the press in 2024, El-Alamin claimed the weapon was registered and he presented his license to carry a firearm in the state of Michigan. 

‘They have investigated me, and I welcomed it! I’m not hiding anything. I would not put myself in this position if I couldn’t be in this position,’ said El-Alamin in an interview with Flint’s ABC12 at the time.

‘I’m not here to try to harm no one, but I don’t wanna be harmed neither.’

In a statement to Daily Mail, longtime Democratic strategist James Carville dismissed the concerns of Michigan Democrats calling for El-Alamin to resign.

‘They could use anything!’ Carville told the Daily Mail. ‘I think you’re getting kind of in the woods here.’