A gathering of the Michigan Republican party on Saturday night turned physical and put one person in emergency room, another ‘kicked in the balls and cops called to break up the brawl.
Tensions boiled over at the Doherty Hotel in Clare, Michigan, as the GOP‘s state committee came together to discuss the party’s direction and the leadership under new chairwoman, Kristina Karamo.
As Michigan Republicans arrived at the venue, some found that the door where the meeting was taking place had already been locked and was limited to members of the state committee.
It left some Republicans feel frustrated as they were left to stand out in the cold.
James Chapman, a Republican from Wayne County, had travelled in to Clare for the meeting only to be forced to listen to it through a locked door. When he tried to get inside, the melee started and included Chapman kicking another member in the groin
Police were called to the Doherty Hotel in Clare, Michigan as tensions boiled over as the GOP’s state committee came together to discuss the party’s direction and leadership
Chapman told The Detroit News how he and others said the Pledge of Allegiance together in the lobby of the hotel – outside of the meeting.
He then attempted to get inside where the meeting was being held by turning the doorknob of the meeting room. He jiggled the doorknob of the meeting room but found it was locked shut.
Mark DeYoung, chairman of the Clare County Republican Party, then came to the door and claims to have seen someone curse at him through one of the windows.
Upon finally opening the door, DeYoung said he was instantly attacked.
‘He kicked me in my balls as soon as I opened the door,’ DeYoung said, noting how Chapman took a run at him – slamming him into a chair.
James Chapman, a Republican from Wayne County, said he was locked out of the meeting and attempted to get in by jiggling a doorknob to the meeting room
Mark DeYoung, chairman of the Clare County Republican Party, claims he was attacked by Chapman, kicked in the testicles and floored, breaking a rib
The force was so great that DeYoung fell to the floor, breking a rib in the process. He had to be taken to hospital.
Chapman, meanwhile, is defending himself and alleges DeYoung swung at him first saying: ‘I’ll kick your ass.’
DeYoung denies saying such a threat took place.
Chapman says he even removed his glasses before grabbing DeYoung by the legs knocking him to the floor: ‘When you see me taking my glasses off, I’m ready to rock,’ he is alleged to have stated.
The police were called to the scene following the scuffle. DeYoung says he intends to press charges against Chapman.
‘We’re so divided. I just wish we could come together,’ DeYoung said from hospital.
In June, tensions boiled over once again.
‘At least four county parties in Michigan have been at open war with themselves, with members suing one another or putting forward competing slates that claim to be in charge. The night before an April state party meeting, two GOP officials got into a physical altercation in a hotel bar over an attempt to expel members,’ The Washington Post reported.
Some of the tension comes over disputes surrounding the party’s chairwoman, Kristina Karamo, who took on the role in February.
Former President Donald Trump, left, listens as Michigan Republican Secretary of State was seen during a rally in October 2022 (file photo)
Some of the tension comes over disputes surrounding the party’s chairwoman, Kristina Karamo, who took on the role in February.
The Post gave further details explaining how she had struggled to raise money, left the party’s headquarter and had struggled to raise funds.
Karamo had in turn removed Matt Johnson, the budget committee chairman. Karamo cited ‘dereliction of duty and several other grievances’.
Johnson told how party spending was ‘so far out of proportion with income as to put us on the path to bankruptcy’.
In the State as a whole, the Democratic Party currently controls the Michigan Senate while Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer comfortably won her reelection by 11 points in November 2022.
The Michigan Republican Party was flattened during the 2022 midterms with Karamo losing her bid for for secretary of state last November by 14 percentage points to her Democrat rival Jocelyn Benson.
It means the Michigan GOP is out of power for the first time in four decades.