โProudโ to defend democracy: Michigan SOS preparing for attempts to interrupt 2022 election process
As midterm elections approach, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says she is committed to her work, which she defines as defending the democratic process and ensuring each Michiganderโs vote is counted.
Calls for discipline mount against Michigan GOP Sen. Mike Shirkey
LANSING, Mich. โ Calls for discipline have grown over the weekend after state Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey was caught in two controversial hot mic conversations. He said he regretted the words he chose and apologized for his โinsensitive comments.โAdThe next day on the Michigan Senate floor, Shirkey told Lt. Gov. READ: How Michigan played a role in Donald Trumpโs 2nd impeachmentThe pressure to discipline Shirkey even extended to the U.S. Senate. AdโItโs outrageous that you have, yet again, another Republican leader engaging in conspiracy theories and lies,โ Peters said. Apparently, the leader of the state Senate in Michigan now wants to tell an even bigger lie.โMichigan Republican Speaker of the House Jason Wentworth released a statement of his own, distancing himself from Shirkey.
How Michigan played a role in Donald Trumpโs 2nd impeachment
LANSING, Mich. โ Enough senators have cast โnot guiltyโ votes Saturday to acquit Donald Trump of inciting the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Protest moves inside Michigan Capitol. Lots of Michigan State Police and House sergeants at arms blocking door. pic.twitter.com/4FNQpimP4W โ Rod Meloni (@RodMeloni) April 30, 2020โThe Michigan State House was effectively a state-level dress rehearsal for the seizure of the U.S. Capitol,โ said Rep. Jamie Raskin. Livonia Sen. Dayna Polehankiโs photo of armed men in the Michigan State Senate Gallery is now official record of American history.
In video, Michigan GOP Leader falsely claims Capitol riot was hoax, staged
(AP Photo/Al Goldis, File)DETROIT โ Michiganโs top Republican called the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, which resulted in five deaths including a Capitol police officer, a hoax, in a video posted to YouTube last week. Michigan GOP Senate Leader Mike Shirkey appears in a video posted on Feb. 3 by the โR.O.A.R. The video appears to show Shirkey meeting with Hillsdale County Republican Party officials, one day before the county voted to censure Shirkey. The reported video comes right after the New York Times published an article detailing Shirkeyโs involvement with Michigan militias, who held armed protests at the Michigan Capitol last year over COVID-19 restrictions. For all these reasons, Mike Shirkey should be out.
Schumer: Trump impeachment trial to begin week of Feb. 8
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)WASHINGTON (AP) โ Opening arguments in the Senate impeachment trial for Donald Trump on the charge of incitement of insurrection for the Capitol riot will begin the week of Feb. 8. READ: House votes to impeach President Trump for violent Capitol insurrectionSenate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the schedule Friday evening after reaching an agreement with Republicans, who had pushed to delay the trial to give Trump a chance to organize his legal team and prepare a defense. Trump will be the first former president to face an impeachment trial after leaving office. โWe all want to put this awful chapter in our nationโs history behind us,โ Schumer said about the deadly Capitol siege. And that is what this trial will provide.โ
Fearing death, lawmakers obtain body armor, armed guards in wake of Capitol siege, says Michigan GOP Rep. Meijer
FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo, supporters of President Donald Trump are confronted by U.S. Capitol Police officers outside the Senate Chamber inside the Capitol in Washington. Joined by Michigan Rep. Fred Upon, Meijer was one of only 10 Republican House representatives to support the second impeachment of President Donald Trump on Jan. 13. โAt the end of the day, this was a vote of conscience,โ Meijer said during an interview on MSNBC Thursday morning. Just last spring, a group of armed protesters entered the Michigan Capitol Building and yelled at members of security outside the legislative chambers to be let inside. The Michigan Capitol Commission has unanimously voted to ban the open carry of firearms inside the building, but some officials argue that new rule is not enough to protect the Capitol and those working inside.
Political violence expert from Oakland University weighs in on insurrection, tensions
DETROIT โ These next few days will undoubtedly be tense for many people who are struggling to make sense of seismic shifts in the political landscape. A political violence expert from Oakland University sat down with Local 4. Dr. Peter Trumbore has spent his career learning and understanding the underpinnings of political violence around the globe. He believes we all have a role in keeping democracy safe during these fragile and dangerous moments. House votes to impeach President Trump for violent Capitol insurrectionThe U.S. House voted to impeach President Donald Trump on Wednesday for his role in inciting the attack on the Capitol last week.
House votes to impeach President Trump for violent Capitol insurrection
President Donald Trump speaks to the media before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021 in Washington. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)WASHINGTON โ The U.S. House voted to impeach President Donald Trump on Wednesday for his role in inciting the attack on the Capitol last week. A total of 10 Republicans voted to impeach Trump, the most bipartisan support any impeachment has received in U.S. history. The fast-moving impeachment comes after Trump incited an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol last week, a violent riot led by Trump supporters that resulted in at least five deaths including one Capitol officer. More: โMichigan Capitol is not safeโ: AG Dana Nessel warns new ban on firearms not sufficient
Trump takes no responsibility for Capitol attack, says remarks were โtotally appropriateโ
President Donald Trump speaks to the media before boarding Air Force One, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)WASHINGTON โ President Donald Trump is taking no responsibility for his role in fomenting a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol last week. As rioters were still in the Capitol, Trump released a video seemingly excusing the events, saying of the rioters: โWe love you. Youโre very special.โAlso: President Donald Trump told reporters Tuesday at the White House that the prospect of impeachment is causing โtremendous angerโ in the nation. His remarks were his first to reporters since the Capitol attack.
Michigan nuns call for immediate removal of Trump from office
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)Michigan members of a Catholic religious institute are calling on lawmakers to immediately remove President Donald Trump from office following the deadly riot that shook the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. The Adrian Dominican Sisters -- who founded and sponsor Siena Heights University in Michigan -- specifically singled out senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow and Rep. Tim Walberg on Friday to take action to remove President Trump from office. Several Cabinet members and White House employees have resigned from their posts following the deadly siege of the U.S. Capitol. President Trump has since publicly condemned the violence in Washington, and even conceded to President-elect Biden for the first time on Thursday evening. Pelosi told Democrats that the top military official assured her steps are in place to prevent a Trump nuclear launch.
Michigan leaders condemn โdouble standardโ of treatment of mostly white rioters at US Capitol
Congresswoman Lawrence says, though it may be difficult for people to hear or even realize, the truth is that Capitol police would have responded differently Wednesday if the rioters Black instead of white. More: Race double standard clear in riotersโ Capitol insurrectionLawrence was among the many lawmakers inside the U.S. Capitol when the pro-Trump extremists stormed the building on Wednesday. Many are wondering why police had such a heavy presence amid largely peaceful BLM protests, but were hardly present amid such a violent riot Jan. 6. He also agrees there are major differences in the treatment of white and Black demonstrators by law enforcement. Congresswoman Lawrence says hearings will take place regarding what happened in Washington on Jan. 6 and the lack of security at the Capitol.
โWords have consequencesโ: Gov. Whitmer says Trump encouraged domestic terrorism in Washington, Michigan
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is joining an increasing number of leaders in faulting President Trump for encouraging the violent insurrection that shook the Capitol -- and the nation -- on Jan. 6. โPeople can come together and demonstrate, that is not in-and-of itself โdomestic terrorism,โโ Whitmer said Thursday. In fact, during a campaign rally, Trump encouraged a crowd of his supporters chanting of Whitmer โlock her upโ by saying smiling and saying โlock them all up.โGov. The riot by Trump supporters who breached the security of Congress on Wednesday was โnot dissent, was not disorder, was not protest. In solemn tones, Biden said the actions Trump has taken to subvert the nationโs democratic institutions throughout his presidency led directly to the mayhem in Washington.