“That was not Trump’s people,” Shirkey said of the January 6 riots in a video recorded at a restaurant.
“This was a scam from day one, everything was pre-arranged,” said Shirkey, saying the protesters “got on separate buses, all arranged by someone who financed everyone.”
“Why was there no more security? It was ridiculous, it was all staged,” he continued, before pointing to conspiracy theories that the Republican leadership – including Senate minority Mitch McConnell – was somehow involved and questioning how and why some casualties occurred or were recorded.
The recorded meeting with Shirkey took place on February 3 at Spangler’s Family Restaurant in Jonesville, Michigan, said Hillsdale County Republican Party Secretary Jon Smith, who told CNN he posted the video on his personal YouTube page. “I didn’t trust him to be honest with me and I wanted to expose his lies and I might need this to keep him on my own record,” said Smith of his reason for filming Shirkey.
“I said a few things in a video conversation that are not appropriate for the position I am privileged to serve,” he said. “I have it. I have a lot of flaws. Being passionate along with an occasional lapse in tongue control are at least two of them.”
He continued: “I regret the words I chose and apologize for my insensitive comments.”