Baraga County Officials post COVID “Manifesto”

The calm at last night’s public Baraga County board meeting disguised a more controversial move that was being planned behind the scenes.

Shortly after the meeting was adjourned, a letter was quietly posted on the Facebook site that Sheriff Joe Brogan had used during his recent election campaign.

Entitled “Baraga County Manifesto,” it alleges that, under COVID-19 rules, Michigan residents have “endured restrictions on their freedom which have not been seen since the days of King George III and the American Revolution.” It accuses state officials of adopting “clearly unconstitutional measures which treat human beings like herd animals.” And it pledges that Baraga County will take no action in furtherance of “a terribly misguided agenda.”

The letter is signed by all five Baraga County commissioners, along with sheriff Joe Brogan, clerk Wendy Goodreau, treasurer Jill Tollefson, and prosecuting attorney Joseph O’Leary.

All of those officials except Brogan attended the public board meeting. None of them said a word.