Mike Shirkey (R), leader of the majority of the Senate in Michigan, issued an apology on Tuesday after being captured on video indicating that the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol was a hoax.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Shirkey apologized for comments made at a meeting with the Hillsdale County Republican Party last week.
‘I said a few things in a video conversation that did not fit the role I was privileged to serve. I own it, “Shirkey said in the statement. I have a lot of mistakes. At least two of them are passionate and accompanied by a decrease in tongue control. I regret the words I have chosen and apologize for my insensitive remarks. ”
Shirkey said at the informal meeting last week that he did not believe the rioters at the Capitol were supporters of old President Trump
Donald Trump Schoen says Trump team will be ‘very well prepared’ after criticism from Iowa Republicans for trying to cut school funding with 1619 Project in curriculum Capitol rioter seen smoking in Rotunda MORE arrested and suggested that the whole mob be ‘pre-arranged’.
“It’s all staged,” Shirkey says on the video. The video was posted to YouTube by a party official.
“Why was there no more security?” Shirkey asks on the video before proposing the then leader of the Senate majority Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellGOP senators send clear signal: Trump’s acquittal video evokes emotions on the first day of the Trump trial, Trump’s lawyer says Roberts’ absence creates a conflict of interest for Democrats. (R-Ky.) “Is part of the decision making how much security they have at hand.”
“I bet they wanted a mess,” Shirkey said, saying a joke from day one. ‘
“These were not Trump people,” Shirkey continues, reflecting conspiracy theories by some of Trump’s supporters. “It was not Trump people. It is [been] a farce from day one. It was all arranged in advance. ‘
The Capitol storm has killed several people and is at the center of Trump’s second Senate indictment.
Shirkey and other Republicans from Michigan received criticism from party members for not standing in the way of certification of votes. President Biden
Joe BidenPostal Service posts gains after boom in holiday deliveries Overnight defense: Pentagon pushes to eradicate extremism in ranks | Top admiral condemns extremism after poaching, hate speech discovered GOP senators send clear signal: Trump is acquitted more‘s victory in the electoral college in the state.
Days after the election, Shirkey and other GOP leaders of the state met with Trump during a meeting where Trump allegedly put them under pressure to support his misleading allegations of voter fraud and a ‘stolen’ election.
A Republican Party official in Hillsdale County told CNN he picked up Shirkey because he did not trust him.
“I did not trust that he would be honest with me, and I wanted to expose his lies, and I might need to keep it to my own record,” the official said.