LANSING, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) — Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, issued a written apology yesterday for comments he made during a Hillsdale Republican Party meeting that were captured on video.
“I said some things in a videoed conversation that are not fitting for the role I am privileged to serve. I own that. I have many flaws. Being passionate coupled with an occasional lapse in restraint of tongue are at least two of them. I regret the words I chose, and I apologize for my insensitive comments,” he wrote in a statement posted online by the Michigan Republican Party.
In the video he made several statements proved false about the Jan. 6, 2021 riot in Washington D.C. in which five people died, including a Capitol police officer.
In the video, he calls the Jan. 6th insurrection and coup attempt at the U.S. Capitol a “hoax” that was “staged,” and suggests US Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell encouraged the riot.
He said he did talk with President Trump about general election results at the White House. Shirkey also says he thought about challenging Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to a fight outside the state Capitol.
Shirkey made the comments meeting with Hillsdale County Republican Party officials a day before those members voted to censure him.
Shirkey was featured in a New York Times story about Michigan militias, indicating he had several meetings with militia members last year.
