Michigan state House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R) stripped Rep. Gary Eisen (R) of his committee assignments on Monday after he hinted at participating in violence at the state capitol in Lansing as the electors cast their votes for President-elect Joe Biden in the Electoral College.
Chatfield said in a statement that violence and intimidation are “never appropriate and never acceptable.”
“We as elected officials must be clear that violence has no place in our democratic process,” the GOP leader said. “We must be held to a higher standard.”
Eisen released a statement regarding what he called “the confusion” over his remarks.
“I regret the confusion over my comments this morning, and I want to assure everyone that those of us who are supporting an alternative slate of electors intend to do so peacefully and legally,” he said.
Earlier on Monday morning, Eisen told local radio show WPHM about a “hail Mary” that he and an unnamed group of people planned on carrying out that day that involved them trying to enter the capitol building, which has been shut down for the day due to threats.
Eisen refused to divulge what exactly he would do, saying only that “it’ll be all over the news later on.”
The GOP lawmaker did not rule out violence.
“No,” Eisen replied when asked if he could assure listeners that it would be a safe day in Lansing. “I don’t know. Because what we’re doing today is uncharted. It hasn’t been done.”
