MI Dems Want Investigation Into State's Role In Jan. 6 Riots

LANSING, MI — Michigan Democrats want an investigation into the state's contributions to the Jan. 6 insurrection at Capitol Hill that killed five people and injured 140.

House Democratic leader Donna Lasinski (D-Scio Township) and Senate Minority leader Jim Ananich (D-Flint) have called on state legislators to create a bipartisan committee to lead the investigation.

“When we are sworn into office, we swear an oath to uphold the constitution of our state and nation — and to uphold our form of democratic government," Lasinski said in a statement. "Actions of violence against our institutions, both here and in D.C., cannot be left unexamined. Irresponsible actions by elected officials to stop the peaceful transfer of power cannot be wished away. It would be cowardly to turn away and ignore the role that Michigan played in the lead-up to the insurrection at our nation’s Capitol.

"Michiganders deserve a thorough, bipartisan investigation of those events and actions," she added.

Read More: Michigan Lawmakers Condemn Protests As U.S. Capitol Breached

A resolution to formally create the committee will be introduced next week by Lasinkski, officials said Friday.

Lasinski and Ananich referred to a number of actions carried out by state legislators after last year’s militia “dress rehearsal” that took place in Lansing in a news release issued Friday.

Among Michigan's involved, Democrats cited Rep. Matthew Maddock (R-Milford) and his wife, MIGOP co-chair Meshawn Maddock, who organized bus trips to the U.S. Capitol to attend the protests that turned into a violent storming of Capitol grounds.

Additionally, nine people from Michigan have been individually charged for their roles in the insurrection.

Karl Dresch, 40, of Calumet, was charged in January, the first Michiganders to face formal charges stemming from the riot.

Michael Foy, 30, of Wixom, was accused of carrying a hockey stick in the U.S. Capitol and swinging it at people during the riot shortly after.

James Allen Mels, 56, of Shelby Township, was the third person from Michigan charged.

Two men from Macomb County — 43-year-old Daniel Herendeen and 39-year-old Robert Schornak — as well as 45-year-old Anthony Williams of Southgate, have been charged for various roles in the riot, the Metro Times reported.

Jeramiah Caplinger, 25, of Taylor, was charged in April. On May 10, Jeremy Ryan Sorvisto was arrested.

On May 10, Jeremy Ryan Sorvisto was arrested.

Anthony Michael Puma, 47, became the ninth person charged from Michigan late last month.

“The extremist displays in both Lansing and Washington should concern any Michigander, especially those we trust to represent our voices and votes accurately," Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes said in a statement. "We applaud Leaders Donna Lasinski and Jim Ananich’s commitment to holding insurrection sympathizers accountable with this effort to begin a bipartisan investigation into just how much Michigan lawmakers and political leaders contributed to the January 6th insurrection.

"The violence that took place that day should spur all of us to want to uncover how the day devolved, so that we may never experience it again. We urge Republican lawmakers to join their Democratic colleagues in creating this bipartisan committee without delay.”