Continuing His Streak of Bizarre, Dangerous Behavior, Mike Shirkey Admits to Advising Militia Groups and Pushes More Lies About Our Elections

After criticizing the FBI’s warning against credible threats of violence at state capitols during inauguration week, Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey has continued his assault on democracy. A new report revealed Shirkey advised three militia groups, saying he gave them advice on “how they could improve their message.” Just a month after the meeting, it was revealed that a group of men with known ties to militia groups were planning to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, put her on trial, and execute her.

Shirkey has been known to cozy up to militia members – he shared the stage at a rally with one of the men charged with attempting to kidnap Gov. Whitmer. And during a recent interview, Shirkey attempted to defend the militia groups that attacked the U.S. Capitol building, saying “I don’t know if you’ve ever been around mobs before but it’s easy to get caught up.”

Shirkey has had a busy week – when he wasn’t admitting to consorting with anti-democracy militia groups or making excuses for their behavior, he was continuing to push the election lies that led to the deadly attack on the capitol, making racist jokes about the coronavirus, and attempting to hide the truth about his whereabouts after testing positive for COVID-19.

It’s clear Shirkey doesn’t take the deadly pandemic seriously. Shirkey only disclosed his COVID-19 diagnosis to the public weeks after his positive test, and then lied about where he was in the weeks leading up to it. Shirkey claimed he hadn’t been in the Capitol since Dec. 18, but video footage shows Shirkey removed his mask in the House for a full 25 minutes on Dec. 21, just two days before he tested positive, potentially exposing others to the virus.

“Mike Shirkey’s alarming behavior has made it clear he is unfit to be a leader and serve in public office,” said DGA Deputy Communications Director Christina Amestoy. “Lawmakers should not be consulting and advising militia groups like the ones who have sought to kidnap the governor and overthrow the government. Nor should they be pushing lies about our elections or refusing to be transparent about their coronavirus diagnosis. Not only are Shirkey’s actions completely abhorrent, they also put our democracy, and the health of others, at risk.”