Michigan GOP Leader Mike Shirkey calls Capitol riot a 'hoax from day one'

LANSING, Mich. — A Republican legislative leader in Michigan apologized Tuesday after falsely claiming supporters of President Donald Trump were not involved in the deadly attack at the U.S. Capitol, having called it a “hoax.”

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, of Clarklake, made the remarks last Wednesday while meeting with leaders of the Hillsdale County GOP, according to a video posted on YouTube by a group called Reclaim Our American Republic.

“I said some things in a videoed conversation that are not fitting for the role I am privileged to serve,” he said in a statement. “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.”

The statement did not specify which remarks led him to be apologetic.

Michigan Senate leader @SenMikeShirkey at a meeting w/ Hillsdale Republicans:
HR: “what about the DC thing? (Referencing the Capitol riots)
Shirkey: “that wasn’t Trump people. That’s been a hoax from day 1 it was all prearranged”
First report: @metrotimes pic.twitter.com/5xesS8UWxh

— Doug Reardon (@ReardonReports) February 10, 2021

Three Republicans spoke with Shirkey at a restaurant a day before the Hillsdale County Republican Party’s executive board censured him for a number of reasons, including backing a ban on the open carry of guns into the Statehouse and allegedly not doing enough to fight Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s coronavirus restrictions.

At one point, a participant who said he was at the Jan. 6 protest in Washington, D.C., asked Shirkey about it.

He responded: “That wasn’t Trump people. That’s been a hoax from day one. That was all prearranged.”

Another participant, who also said he had been in D.C., suggested that police tear-gassed “their own guards.”

Shirkey said: “Why wasn’t there more security there? It was ridiculous. It was all staged,” claiming that then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell “was part of it. …They wanted to have a mess.” He added that some Trump backers “probably got caught up in the emotion” of the mob.

The siege of the Capitol stunned the world as hundreds of Trump supporters ransacked the building to try to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s victory. Five people died, including a police officer.

JUST IN: @SenMikeShirkey is apologizing for comments he made in a videotaped meeting with Hillsdale County Republicans. His statement doesn't say what exactly he's apologizing for.

He's on tape saying he contemplating challenging @GovWhitmer "to a fistfight on the Capitol lawn." https://t.co/doFRPvHTOQ pic.twitter.com/HUyalgCN21

— Chad Livengood (@ChadLivengood) February 9, 2021

Jon Smith, the Hilldale County GOP’s secretary, told The Associated Press that he recorded the hour-long conversation with a phone in his pocket. It was unclear whether Shirkey knew he was being recorded. Hillsdale County is one of three counties Shirkey represents in the Senate.

Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, a Flint Democrat, said “it is past time to accept the facts. On Jan. 6, 2021, there was an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Republicans need to decide for themselves if they are going to hold their leaders accountable for spreading lies.”