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State Rep. removed from committees after saying a peaceful protest isn't guaranteed

Statement made hours before electoral college vote
Posted at 12:05 PM, Dec 14, 2020
and last updated 2020-12-14 12:05:37-05

State Rep. Gary Eisen, a Republican from St. Clair has been removed from his committee assignments after saying he couldn't guarantee a safe day in Lansing Monday as Michigan's electors gather to vote for Joe Biden.

Speaking to WPHM on Monday morning, Eisen was asked, "Can you assure me that this is going to be a safe day in Lansing, nobody is going to get hurt?"

He responded, "No," before adding that, "I don't know because what we're doing today is uncharted. It hasn't been done."

During the 11-minute interview, Eisen didn't give details about what may happen, but said he was asked to help.

Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield and Speaker-elect Jason Wentworth released a joint statement saying in part, "We have been consistent in our position on issues of violence and intimidation in politics – it is never appropriate and never acceptable."

They also said that violence has no place in the democratic process that that Eisen has been removed from his committee assignments for the rest of this term. The term does end at the end of the year.

The Michigan legislative buildings are closed Monday due to "credible threats," police say, as the 16 Michigan electors gather to send their Electoral College votes to Washington D.C. for Joe Biden.