LANSING, MI — Sen. Jim Runestad on Wednesday raised concerns about remarks made by Sen. Sarah Anthony during a recent Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee meeting, in which she criticized the conduct of Michigan State Police.
“At a time when respect for law enforcement is at an all-time low, it is more important than ever to stand up for our police officers,” said Runestad, R-White Lake. “Democrats are constantly undermining the work of these dedicated officials with their repeated calls to defund the essential work they do to keep our communities safe.”
Anthony, D-Lansing, alleged as part of her committee testimony that firearms were pointed at lawmakers during a 2020 Capitol protest and claimed to have filed a formal complaint with MSP regarding the incident.
“Our sergeants and police officers do vitally important work to keep lawmakers safe, and it is a responsibility that they do not take lightly,” Runestad said. “During my time in Lansing, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know these hardworking individuals, and they will do whatever is necessary to ensure elected officials can perform their duties securely. And as a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights, I take any allegations involving the forcible use of firearms very seriously.”
Following the hearing, Runestad sent a letter to MSP requesting information on the actions taken to investigate Anthony’s claim of a felony gun crime within the state Capitol, records of a formal complaint and any supporting evidence.
However, MSP representatives informed Runestad’s office they found no record of a complaint containing then-state Rep. Anthony’s name related to firearms at the Capitol during the 2020 protest. A thorough search and review of MSP records yielded no supporting evidence for the allegations.