[2020] Armed militias enter and occupy the Lansing Capitol. Shirkey allowed several men with long guns to roam the Senate gallery as he forced a vote on legislation against Whitmer's COVID-19 orders. Protesters chanted "lock her up" and brought homemade signs attacking Governor Whitmer including one that read "Tyrants get the rope."

[2020] Before the 2020 presidential election results were certified, Shirkey, then-House Speaker Lee Chatfield, current Speaker Jason Wentworth, Senator Tom Barrett, and other Republican legislators travelled to Washington DC to huddle with Trump, enabling the former president’s baseless claim that the election was stolen from him.

[2021] Insurrection of nation’s Capitol in Washington DC. Rep. Maddock and his wife MIGOP co-chair Meshawn Maddock organize busloads of people to attend the Jan 6th protests in DC that resulted in the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol that took place to support the Big Lie.

[2021] News resurfaces that Shirkey previously gave a seminar to the same militia groups that stormed Lansing. Shirkey empathized: “I was in Lansing[…]and we talked about their messaging, their purpose, what they are trying to accomplish and how they could improve their message. It was very fascinating and they’re not uniquely different than you and I.”

[2021] Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey claims the insurrection was a “hoax” and “all staged.” He also sexualized Whitmer and used violent language to refer to her during this meeting in Hillsdale, saying, “We’ve spanked her hard on budget, [...] I did contemplate inviting her to a fistfight on the Capitol lawn.”

[2021] Michigan Senate Republicans introduce 39 anti-voter bills. These bills undermine Democracy and aim to take away the rights of voters. 

[2021] A photo surfaces of Shirkey smiling with William Null, one of the many armed extremist militia men that stormed the Michigan Capitol and faces charges for his role in the alleged plot to kidnap and kill Governor Whitmer. 

[2021] Prayer rally takes place on Lansing capitol steps, where one attendee has a sign that says “Burn the Witch” in reference to Gov. Whitmer. Affidavits are anointed with oil and demonstrators enter the building, requesting that Shirkey sign that he received them.