FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
January 6, 2023
Contact: Sam Inglot, sam@progressmichigan.org
J6 Anniversary: Michigan’s Insurrection Caucus
On the anniversary of the January 6, 2021 violent insurrection, Progress Michigan calls attention to Republican lawmakers connected to the Big Lie
MICHIGAN – Today marks the second anniversary of the January 6, 2021, violent insurrection at the United States Capitol. On this important day of remembrance, Progress Michigan calls for continued efforts to hold participants in and supporters of Trump’s conspiracy to overturn the will of voters in the 2020 election accountable. That starts with the Michigan lawmakers who attempted to overturn the will of the voters.
“It’s been two years since we looked on in horror as a violent attack on our country resulted in the deaths of at least seven people and injured many, many more,” said Sam Inglot, deputy director of Progress Michigan. “But the fight against Trump’s lies and MAGA extremism is far from over. While more than a dozen Michiganders have been criminally charged in connection with their actions on January 6, the Big Lie is alive and well in the Michigan Republican Party. Michigan MAGA Republicans continue to spread lies about our election, and nearly a dozen people directly connected to the insurrection and efforts to overturn the election are now serving in the state legislature.”
Multiple Michigan lawmakers participated in or supported Trump’s conspiracy and insurrection to an extent greater than simply spreading the Big Lie. These lawmakers include people who were in D.C. on January 6, signed onto a letter asking then-Vice President Mike Pence to decertify the election, signed onto a frivolous Texas lawsuit attempting to overturn election results, were involved in Michigan’s fake elector scheme, and/or said they would support appointing an alternate slate of Trump electors.
Michigan’s Insurrection Caucus includes:
- Senator Joe Bellino
- Then-Representative Bellino signed onto the Texas lawsuit.
- Representative Ken Borton
- Borton signed onto the Pence letter.
- Senator Jon Bumstead
- Bumstead reportedly said he would support appointing an alternate slate of Trump electors.
- Representative Steve Carra
- Representative Neil Friske
- Friske appears to have attended the January 6th insurrection.
- Senator Michele Hoitenga
- Then-Representative Hoitenga signed onto the Texas lawsuit.
- Representative Matt Maddock
- Maddock and his wife, Meshawn Maddock—current GOP Party co-chair—helped organize buses from Michigan to D.C. for the Stop the Steal rally on January 6th and spoke at a rally in D.C. before the insurrection. Maddock also signed onto the Pence letter and the Texas lawsuit, and was involved in the fake elector scheme.
- Representative Greg Markkanen
- Markkanen signed onto the Texas lawsuit.
- Representative Luke Meerman
- Meerman signed onto the Pence letter and the Texas lawsuit.
- Representative Angela Rigas
- Rigas was present at the January 6th insurrection and considers being called an “insurrectionist” a compliment.
- Senator Rick Outman
- Outman reportedly said he would support appointing an alternate slate of Trump electors.
- Representative Brad Paquette
- Paquette signed onto the Texas lawsuit.
- Representative Doug Wozniak
- Wozniak signed onto the Pence letter and the Texas lawsuit.
- Senator Roger Victory
- Victory reportedly said he would support appointing an alternate slate of Trump electors.
While these lawmakers participated the most directly in Trump’s insurrection efforts, they’re certainly not alone. Forty-three percent of the House GOP caucus and 72 percent of the Senate GOP caucus worked to push Trump’s Big Lie.
“We’ve made some progress over the past two years in uncovering the truth and holding the people involved in Trump’s conspiracy accountable,” Inglot continued. “But we have a long way to go. If we allow MAGA extremism to continue unchecked, we leave the door open for yet another January 6 and further efforts to override the will of the people.”
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