The Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, Ron Weiser issued an apology on Saturday after he mentioned “assassination” in a discussion about removing two state representatives that voted to impeach Donald Trump and referred to the state’s top elected Democratic officials as “witches.”
“In an increasingly vitriolic political environment, we should all do better to treat each other with respect, myself included,” Weiser said in a statement to the Hill. “I fell short of that the other night. I apologize to those I offended for the flippant analogy about three women who are elected officials and for the off-hand comments about two other leaders. I have never advocated for violence and never will.”
Weiser made the comments at a North Oakland Republican Club meeting while taking questions from the audience, according to a video obtained by The Detroit News.
He was asked by an audience member about plans to oust Republican Reps. Fred Upton and Peter Meijer, who voted to impeach Trump after the deadly Capitol riot.
Weiser said the party is focused on beating the “three witches” in 2022, referring to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson — the three statewide Democratic leaders who are up for re-election in 2022.
He was then asked by another audience member about ousting witches in the Republican party.
“Ma’am, other than assassination, I have no other way … other than voting out. OK?” Weiser responded. “You people have to go out there and support their opponents. You have to do what you need to get out the vote in those areas. That’s how you beat people.”
Nessel responded to Weiser’s comments on Twitter. She wrote, “Witches who magically decrease Covid spread, increase voter turnout and hold sexual predators accountable without any help from the legislature? Sign me up for that coven. Do better, Michigan GOP.”
Weiser’s apology comes after he doubled down on Friday night and blamed the “media and leftists” for taking his comments out of context.