Michigan GOP leader apologizes after ‘assassination’ remark

Michigan Republican Party Chairman Ron Weiser offered an apology on Saturday after making reference to “assassination” as he was discussing some of the state’s leaders.

In a statement shared with The Hill, Weiser said “in an increasingly vitriolic political environment, we should all do better to treat each other with respect, myself included.”

“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” he said. 

Weiser came under fire on Friday after The Detroit News published video of him discussing how to oust GOP Reps. Fed Upton and Peter Meijer during a Republican club meeting. Both men were among the 10 House Republicans that voted to impeach Trump for inciting the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol.

He also referred to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D), and Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) as “the three witches.”

Weiser was saying that people needed to vote  after he was asked how to get rid of the three “witches.”  

“Ma’am, other than assassination, I have no other way … other than voting out. OK?” Weiser said. “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 the comments on Friday, tweeting “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.”

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. https://t.co/v14V0mJE4G pic.twitter.com/NC2XTuNs3c

— Dana Nessel (@dananessel) March 26, 2021

Weiser tweeted on Friday that his comments were “clearly being taken out of context,” but stopped short of apologizing.

“While I should have chosen my words more carefully, anyone who knows me understands I would never advocate for violence,” he said.

I’ve spoken with Rep(s) Upton and Meijer personally. My off-the-cuff comments received more scrutiny from the media and leftists in the last 24 hours than the governor’s handling of COVID, the deaths she caused in nursing homes and unemployment issues impacting too many (2/3)

— Ron Weiser (@RonaldWeiser) March 26, 2021

hard-working Michiganders to this day. I will not be resigning from the University of Michigan, and our focus at the Michigan Republican Party remains the same—winning in 2022. (3/3)

— Ron Weiser (@RonaldWeiser) March 26, 2021