Footage Surfaces Alleging Former MI Senate Leader Claimed Jan 6 Was “Staged” to Aid Impeachment
Hidden camera footage has surfaced online allegedly capturing former Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey making explosive claims regarding the January 6 Capitol breach. In the video, the Republican lawmaker appears to assert that the event was “staged” and suggests that then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell orchestrated the chaos to facilitate an impeachment conviction against Donald Trump.
The Allegations
The circulating footage shows Shirkey speaking candidly in what appears to be a private setting. He is heard claiming that the events of January 6 were “staged” and not perpetrated by genuine Trump supporters. Furthermore, the former Senate Leader implicates Mitch McConnell, alleging the Kentucky Senator “wanted chaos” and intentionally allowed a security lapse. According to the remarks in the video, this alleged maneuver was designed to help House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Leader Chuck Schumer secure the necessary political leverage to push for an impeachment conviction against the former President.
Background & Context
A Deep Search into the origins of these remarks indicates they align with a widely reported incident from February 2021. During a meeting with the Hillsdale County Republican Party at Spangler’s Family Restaurant in Jonesville, Michigan, Shirkey was secretly recorded making nearly identical comments. In that 2021 recording, he characterized the Capitol riot as a “hoax” and accused McConnell of being “part of it.” Following the release of that tape, Shirkey faced significant backlash and issued a public apology, stating, “I regret the words I chose, and I apologize for my insensitive comments,” though he later told a reporter he did not “take back any of the points I was trying to make.” The resurfacing of this footage often coincides with renewed political debates regarding the investigations into the January 6 timeline.
Objections and Fact Checks
The claims made in the footage have been widely disputed by multiple federal investigations.
“Staged” Allegation: Extensive investigations by the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the bipartisan House Select Committee found no evidence that the riot was staged or a “false flag” operation. Hundreds of individuals prosecuted for their actions on that day were confirmed supporters of the “Stop the Steal” movement.
McConnell’s Role: There is no evidence supporting the claim that Mitch McConnell orchestrated security failures. The security of the Capitol complex is overseen by the Capitol Police Board, and inquiries into security failures have largely focused on intelligence breakdowns and bureaucratic delays, not sabotage by Senate leadership. McConnell voted to acquit Trump in the subsequent impeachment trial on jurisdictional grounds, though he verbally condemned Trump’s actions.
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