Michigan GOP blames 'intern' for anti-Peter Meijer tweet

Lansing — The Michigan Republican Party blamed an intern for a social media post Monday that targeted U.S. Senate candidate Peter Meijer, within hours of the former congressman joining a crowded primary race for the GOP's nomination.

"Peter Meijer voted to impeach President Trump. Remember that," the Michigan Republican Party's official account on X posted at about 9:45 a.m. Monday.

Minutes later, the Michigan Republican Party deleted the message. Then, the party issued a statement, saying it remained "neutral and supportive of all Republican primary candidates."

"Unfortunately, an over-zealous intern posted a negative comment regarding a candidate that does not reflect the position of MIGOP," the statement said. "This matter has since been dealt with and the post removed. Our sincerest apologies."

Ordinarily, party chairs and the party itself stay out of convention and primary fights to avoid claims of bias and to focus attention on campaigns against Democrats. But the current Michigan GOP chairwoman, Kristina Karamo, has been openly critical of Meijer in the past.

When Karamo was campaigning for party chairwoman, her "vision" plan for the party touted that her co-chairwoman, Malinda Pego, once "used the (Muskegon) county party bylaws to disavow Peter Meijer."

Meijer, a Republican former member of the U.S. House from Grand Rapids Township, launched his bid for the U.S. Senate on Monday morning. He joined a field of GOP contenders that includes former Detroit Police Chief James Craig and former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of Brighton.

They're running for a seat in the U.S. Senate that's currently held by Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, who's not seeking reelection.

Meijer, an Iraq veteran, lost his U.S. House reelection bid in the August 2022 Republican primary after he was one of 10 Republican members of the House who voted to impeach Trump for “incitement of insurrection" in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Trump is seeking the Republican Party's nomination for president in 2024 and is widely viewed as the front runner to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden.

Meijer's campaign didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the Michigan Republican Party's deleted social media post.

cmauger@detroitnews.com

Staff Writer Melissa Nann Burke contributed.