“That wasn’t Trump people. That’s been a hoax from day one,” Michigan state Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R) said of the riot last week. He added that it “was all staged.” He later apologized for his remarks — but was caught on an open mic admitting that he still held those views. 1
The claim: “Too many dead people voted” in Michigan. Michigan’s top elected Republican relied on an oft-repeated and inaccurate claim about dead voters to bolster his argument for changes in state election law. 2
- The Washington Post, Philip Bump, February 11, 2021 – Half of Republicans say that the Capitol violence was mostly antifa’s fault
- Detroit Free Press, Clara Hendrickson and Dave Boucher, February 16, 2021 – Michigan Senate GOP leader Shirkey falsely claims dead people voted