Michigan Sen. Mike Shirkey appears to double down on Capitol ‘hoax’ conspiracy theory

WASHINGTON – Questions are being raised about the public apology sent out on Tuesday night by Michigan’s highest-ranking Republican, State Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey.

READ: Top Michigan Republican stands by Capitol ‘hoax’ comments

Shirkey apologized on Tuesday after a video was released of a Feb. 3 meeting in which he told Republicans that the siege at the Capitol “wasn’t Trump people. He claimed to believe it was a hoax.

During Wednesday morning’s Senate session, Shirkey appeared to double down on those beliefs in a side conversation that was caught on a nearby live microphone.

READ: Michigan Sen. Mike Shirkey falsely claims US Capitol riot was ‘hoax from day one’ in video

In a private conversation with Democratic Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II in the Michigan Senate that was captured by the chamber’s video feed, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey said: “I frankly don’t take back any of the points I was trying to make” but rather “some of the words I chose.” He said the siege was “very real, but the assignment of cause -- that was planned weeks and months in advance.”

Watch the video above for the full report.