From the Associated Press — One of Michigan’s highest-ranking Republicans is standing by his false claims that blaming supporters of then-President Donald Trump for the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol was a “hoax.” Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey spoke with Democratic Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II during the Senate session Wednesday. He says he won’t take back any of the points he was trying to make but rather some of the words he used. Shirkey apologized Tuesday after the release of a video in which he told Republicans last week that the January 6 protest “wasn’t Trump people.”
