Politics

As Trump tried to cover up his relationship with Epstein, Mike Rogers and Michigan Republicans stood with GOP leaders who obstructed a vote for months

LANSING — This afternoon, Democrats successfully forced a House vote to release the full Epstein files after “months of stalling by GOP leaders” and Trump’s attempts to cover up Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes and his relationship with the sexual predator. As the bill now heads to the Senate, failed GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers still hasn’t said where he stands on making the full Epstein files public, even as victims and the vast majority of Americans want all the files released, and has stood in lockstep with Michigan Republicans and GOP leaders who obstructed this vote for months.

In response, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Curtis Hertel released the following statement:

“Today’s vote brings us one step closer to delivering justice for the Epstein survivors and transparency for the American public—and was made possible because of Michigan Democrats in Congress who signed onto the discharge petition and have been advocating for the full release of the Epstein files. Meanwhile, Mike Rogers and Michigan Republicans remained silent for months while GOP leaders did everything in their power to prevent this vote from ever happening. Michiganders will remember these Republicans chose to ignore victims all the way up until the moment it was no longer possible.”
 

- press release

 LANSING — Following a hateful march through the city of Dearborn, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Curtis Hertel released the following statement: 

“Attempting to burn a religious document is an unacceptable act of hate. Dearborn is a beloved, multicultural city with tens of thousands of people who are cherished friends, family members, and neighbors. 

“Bringing hateful people to a great American city to incite violence is disgraceful. Republican leaders and candidates that instigated this should be ashamed.”  

- press release

LANSING,  Mich. — In a new announcement, Trump said that he would not support an extension of the ACA premium tax credits that help keep health care more affordable for middle-class families, and instructed Republicans not to “waste” their time on it. This comes after Trump’s tax law slashed Medicaid while insurers drop coverage for hundreds of thousands of Michiganders and health care costs skyrocket due to price hikes supported by Mike Rogers, the Republican gubernatorial candidates, and every Michigan Republican in Congress. In response, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Curtis Hertel released the following statement:

“If Mike Rogers, the Republican candidates for governor, and the Michigan GOP think their party can force these health-care price hikes on working families without consequences, they're in for a rude awakening. Michigan voters will remember these Republicans sided with Trump’s plan to jack up their health care costs to pay for tax handouts for billionaires, and they will hold them accountable at the ballot box.”

Background

• Mike Rogers "firmly supported" the Republican tax law that failed to extend ACA tax credits while giving tax handouts to millionaires like himself. Rogers has stood with national Republicans who refuse to negotiate with Democrats in order to prevent Michigan families' health care costs from skyrocketing.
• Each of the Republican candidates for governor have supported the disastrous GOP tax law—with John James even casting one of the deciding votes, while he’s dodged questions on the health care price hikes and even kept the door open to ending Medicaid expansion entirely in Michigan. Aric Nesbitt called the law a “win,” Tom Leonard said ‘Yes, I support that. 100%’ when asked about cuts to Medicaid, and Mike Cox cheered the tax law’s passage.
• Every Michigan Republican in the U.S. House—Jack Bergman, John Moolenaar, Bill Huizenga, Tim Walberg, Tom Barrett, and Lisa McClain—voted for the GOP tax law that failed to extend ACA tax credits. 

- press release