In video, the leader of the Republican Party of Michigan falsely claims that the Capitol riot was a scam, staged

DETROIT – Michigan’s top Republican called for the Capitol rebellion on January 6, which resulted in five deaths, including a Capitol cop, a scam, in a video posted on YouTube last week. It wasn’t a joke.

Michigan Republican Party Senate leader Mike Shirkey appears in a video posted on February 3 by the group “ROAR (Reclaim Our American Republic)”, where he makes several false claims. The video appears to show Shirkey meeting with Hillsdale County Republican Party officials, the day before the county voted to censor Shirkey. The video shows the group having a meal in a restaurant. It was first reported by Metro Times.

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In the video, which is over an hour long, Hillsdale and Shirkey employees appear to be going through a list of problems between the two sides. Shirkey offers several statements about incidents that are proven to be false.

Shirkey was asked what he thought “about that DC thing” by one of the officers at the table.

“That was not Trump’s people,” Shirkey falsely stated. “This has been a scam – from day one. This was agreed beforehand. “Shirkey also falsely suggested that then-US Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell had a part in this.

Of course, this is not true. Dozens of insurgencies were accused of federal crimes after being captured on video, using and shouting pro-Trump material as they stormed the U.S. Capitol building on January 6. The disturbances occurred immediately after President Trump’s speech, where he asked supporters to go to the capital. Trump has been accused of “inciting insurrection” and is currently on trial in the United States Senate for the second time.

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Shirkey issued a statement apologizing for the comments, but did not admit that his allegations were false:

“I said a few things in a video conversation that are not suitable for the role I am privileged to serve. I own this. I have many defects. Being passionate along with an occasional lapse in language restriction are at least two of them. I regret the words I chose and apologize for my insensitive comments. “

Related: Federal: the Wixom man was one of the most violent participants in the siege of the United States Capitol

The reported video comes right after the New York Times published an article detailing Shirkey’s involvement with Michigan militias, who held armed protests at the Michigan Capitol last year because of COVID-19 restrictions.

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Regarding the Capitol riots in January, Shirkey told the NYT: “It was people feeling overwhelmed and depressed, responding to what they thought the government was just stealing their lives from. And I am not endorsing and supporting your actions, but I understand where they come from. “

The Michigan Democratic Party asked Shirkey to resign due to the NYT report:

“The Michigan Republican Party, led by Mike Shirkey, embraced right-wing extremists with open arms, including armed militiamen who invaded the US Capitol on January 6,” Michigan Democratic Party President Lavora Barnes said. “Mike Shirkey met with these men behind closed doors, spoke at his rallies and helped fund efforts to fight the governor’s attempts to keep Michiganders safe during a global health pandemic. For all these reasons, Mike Shirkey should be out. I ask that he resign immediately. “

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