Politics & Government
MI Lawmaker Can't Guarantee There Won't Be Violence Monday
Rep. Gary Eisen, R-St. Clair Twp., said he couldn't guarantee there wouldn't be violence Monday, the day of the Electoral College vote.
MICHIGAN — Republican Rep. Gary Eisen, R-St. Clair Twp., has been removed from his committee assignments after saying he couldn't promise Monday would be safe in a radio interview regarding Monday's Electoral College vote in Michigan.
Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield released a statement Monday saying there is no place for violence or threats of violence toward state officials.
"We as elected officials must be clear that violence has no place in our democratic process," Chatfield said. "We must be held to a higher standard."
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Threats of violence, or a refusal to denounce it, will not be tolerated in the Michigan House. Last week, a Democrat was removed from her committees. Today, a Republican has been too. We will not condone this behavior. In a Republic, we settle our differences on Election Day. pic.twitter.com/W1dnxJpaLz
— Lee Chatfield (@LeeChatfield) December 14, 2020
Eisen said in a radio interview that the Michigan Republican Party is organizing an event Monday to challenge the Democratic electors, according to David Eggert of The Associated Press.
Eisen said Monday is uncharted and that he couldn't guarantee there wouldn't be violence, according to Eggert.
Find out what's happening in Detroitfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"I'm just here to witness," Eisen said.
Michigan's 16 electors are meeting at 2 p.m. Monday to vote in the Electoral College vote for president. Due to threats, Michigan's government buildings are closed, and police will escort the electors to the Capitol.
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