In a video, the Michigan GOP leader falsely claims that there was a deception against the Capitol Revolt

DETROIT – Michigan’s top Republican called the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, which left five dead, including a Capitol police officer, a hoax, in a video posted to YouTube last week. It was not a hoax.

Mike Shirkey, leader of the Michigan GOP Senate, appears in a video released Feb. 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 a day before the county voted to censor Shirkey. The video shows the group eating at a restaurant. It was first reported by the Metro Times.

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In the video, which lasts more than an hour, Hillsdale and Shirkey officials appear to be examining a list of issues between the two parties. Shirkey offers several claims about incidents that prove to be false.

One of the officials at the table asked Shirkey what he thought “about that DC thing.”

“These weren’t Trump’s people,” Shirkey falsely claimed. “It simply came to our notice then. Everything was pre-ordered. Shirkey also falsely suggested that then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was involved.

Of course, this is not true. Dozens of insurgents have been charged with federal crimes after being caught on video, carrying and shouting pro-Trump material while storming the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6. the Capitol. Trump was charged with “inciting insurrection” and is currently on trial in the U.S. Senate for the second time.

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

“I said some things in a video conversation that were not appropriate for the role I am privileged to play. I have it. I have many flaws. The fact of being passionate, along with an occasional lapse of tongue retention, is at least two. I regret the words I chose and I apologize for my insensitive comments.

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The reported video appears just after The New York Times published an article detailing Shirkey’s involvement with Michigan militias, which held armed protests at the Michigan Capitol last year over COVID-19 restrictions.

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In the Capitol riots in January, Shirkey told NYT: “People felt oppressed and depressed, responding to what they thought the government was just stealing their lives. And I’m not supporting or supporting their actions, but I understand. where they come from “.

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

“The Michigan Republican Party, led by Mike Shirkey, has embraced right-wing extremists with open arms, including members of the armed militia that stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6.” Works Barnes, president of the Democratic Party of Michigan dit. “Mike Shirkey has met with these men behind closed doors, spoken at their rallies and helped fund efforts to combat the governor’s attempts to keep Michiganders safe during a global health pandemic. “Shifkey should leave. I ask him to resign immediately.”

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