(Source: MIRS.news, Published 11/27/2024) Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) presented a letter Wednesday from the Michigan State Police (MSP) that it has no record of Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) reporting that a gun was pointed at her on the House floor during a COVID protest from 2020, following a tense Nov. 14 committee meeting in which the subject first came up. 

However, Anthony provided MIRS with text messages from May 2020 that showed she was in communication with police regarding exchanges she had with protesters from the April 30, 2020, rally inviting her to events that she felt uncomfortable attending. She also showed she was set to meet with the MSP about a matter on May 7, 2020. 

Anthony reiterated what she said during the Nov. 14 Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee hearing: that she talked with police about the incident on the House floor to House sergeants and the State Police. If a report wasn't filed, she couldn't speak to that, but conversations did take place about a weapon being pointed at her on the House floor. 

Runestad issued a press release Wednesday raising concerns that the Senate Appropriations Committee chair “criticized the conduct of the Michigan State Police.” 

“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.” 

Wednesday's press release comes after a tense exchange between the two senators that can be seen through the MIRS committee transcription service at the 57:15 point in the hearing. The subject was legislation banning guns from the state Capitol. Earlier in her testimony, Anthony said, “It was just a few years ago that many of us were in this building, absolutely terrified as firearms were pointed at us while we were trying to just do our jobs.” 

Runestad's argument was that if that were the case, he was surprised he was hearing about it now for the first time and that nothing was done about it.