HILLSDALE, MI (WTVB) – Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey has apologized for comments he made to Hillsdale County Republicans in a video conversation that was recorded a day before he was censured by the Hillsdale County Republican Party.
Shirkey’s 16th District in the State Senate includes Branch County. In a letter from Hillsdale County Republican Party Chair Daren Wiseley, Shirkey was taken to task over 11 issues which they say have taken place over the last decade.
Among them was Shirkey’s “open support of the banning of firearms at the Michigan State Capital, when no violent attack with firearms has ever taken place.” The Hillsdale County Republicans also censured Shirkey for what they called “complete and utter surrender to Governor Gretchen Whitmer in regards to her unconscionable and unconstitutional shutdown of small businesses”.
Shirkey was also accused of surrendering to Whitmer “in regards to the unprecedented quarantining of healthy young adults and children from society.”
In the video, Shirkey called the January 6 insurrection and coup attempt at the U.S. Capitol a “hoax” that was “staged.” Shirkey also said he thought about challenging Governor Whitmer to a fight outside the state Capitol and admitted talking general election results with President Trump at the White House.
In addition, he accused Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of encouraging the January 6 rioters.
In his statement on Tuesday, Shirkey said, “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.”
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