Michigan Rep Won’t Discuss Trump in Bizarre Statement

ROCHESTER, MI — In an unusual statement Monday, U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop, a Republican from Rochester, said he has spoken his last word about his party’s embattled presidential nominee, Donald Trump, but managed to bring up his former opponent’s defense of Hollywood film director Roman Polanski, who escaped charges of doping a 13-year-old by pleading to a lesser charge and is reportedly hiding out in countries that don't extradite U.S. fugitives.

Bishop’s statement came after the release of 2005 tapes in which businessman and reality television star Trump boasted in vulgar terms of kissing, groping and trying to have sex with women and said “when you’re a star they let you do it. You can do anything.”

Bishop said Monday Trump wasn’t his choice as the Republican Party standard bearer in the election, and he has “publicly admonished” Trump; after the tape surfaced, Bishop said “no person should ever talk about women the way Trump talked in that conversation.”

But he hasn’t rescinded his earlier endorsement of the candidate and, apparently, won't.

In the Monday statement, the congressman said:

“... Donald Trump was not my first or second choice during the primary process, but Republican voters chose him and I respect their decision. I have been continuously troubled by his conduct and statements, and I publicly admonished him over his disgusting comments about women.”

Then, Bishop turned to old comments his former opponent made about Polanski.

“When my opponent, [Suzanna] Shkreli, was asked what she thought of the prior candidate Melissa Gilbert defending child rapist Roman Polanski, Shkreli said she would focus on her own campaign. I am choosing to do the same. ...”

Bishop said he plans to focus his energies on his race for a second term in Congress and “will not answer any more questions regarding Donald Trump.”

Gilbert, of Howell, abruptly withdrew from Michigan’s 8th District Congressional race in May, saying that her doctors said she was “physically unable” to continue her run for Congress due to pain from head and neck injuries sustained in two accidents. She was replaced on the ballot by Shkreli. As a guest on a 2009 episode of “The View,” Gilbert said it was “excessive” for the United States to attempt to extradite Polanski to be sentenced on the charges of unlawful sex with a 13-year-old in the 1970s. Gilbert has since recanted her comments.

Standing By Trump

After the Washington Post revealed the damning video Friday, high-profile Republicans who previously had backed Trump pulled their endorsements, including one in Michigan.

In a statement released exclusively to The Detroit News, Michigan Lt. Gov. Brian Calley said the comments made in the tape “make it impossible for me to maintain support for him.”

“This is not a decision I take lightly because I still believe that a Hillary Clinton presidency represents a disastrous alternative,” Calley said, adding that he plans to write in Trump’s running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, unless Trump steps down — and there’s no indication that he will.

Rep. Fred Upton, a Republican from St. Joseph, hasn’t endorsed Trump, but he joined Calley in asking him to drop out of the race.

“It’s a new low. It’s outrageous. As a husband and father, I feel angry and sickened,” Upton said in a statement. “Those running for the office of the president are rightfully held to a higher standard. These latest transgressions are so grave. I urge him to think about our country over his own candidacy and carefully consider stepping aside from the ticket.”

Several other members of Michigan’s congressional delegation condemned Trump’s remarks but stopped short of saying they won’t vote for him.

“As a husband, a father of two daughters, and a human being, there are no excuses for Donald Trump's remarks,” said Rep. Dave Trott, a Republican from Birmingham. “His words are offensive and disgusting.”

Rep. Candice Miller, a Harrison Township Republican who isn’t seeking re-election, said there was “no excuse” for Trump’s remarks and compared them to comments by her opponent for Macomb County drain commissioner, Democrat Anthony Marrocco, that she got “knocked up” while still in high school.

Trott and Miller didn’t rescind their endorsements of Trump, either.

Another Michigan Republican, Rep. Justin Amash of Cascade Township, not only withheld his endorsement and repeated his call for Trump to step aside; in another tweet, he said he’s not voting for either Trump or Clinton.

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, a Republican from Zeeland, said in a statement that Trump’s comments were “disgusting,” but he didn’t ask him to step down.

"Donald Trump's recently unearthed comments are disgusting and indefensible,” he said. “Mr. Trump has said he has dramatically changed his life since making these comments over a decade ago, and I am hoping and praying that is the case.”

Michigan Republican Party Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel also weighed in with a statement:

“As a woman, as the mother of a 13-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son, and as a Republican, I find Mr. Trump’s comments reprehensible and disgusting. Mr. Trump has apologized for the comments he made 11 years ago, but needs to do so again and again if he hopes to gain back any semblance of public trust.

“I am confident that Michiganders know that Donald Trump’s comments represent only himself, and other Republicans do not share his views. Donald Trump's comments are his alone to own and I cannot and will not defend them.”

Even before the tapes were released, Michigan’s longest serving governor, Republican William Milliken, who served from 1969-1983, crossed party lines to endorse Clinton.

“Because I feel so strongly about our nation's future, I will be joining the growing list of former and present government officials in casting my vote for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016,” he said.

The current governor, Rick Snyder, hasn’t endorsed a candidate and has said that he won’t.

Image: Official government photo of Rep. Mike Bishop, R-Rochester