Michigan Republican lawmaker apologizes for creepy comments to female reporter

A MICHIGAN lawmaker says he’s sorry for humiliating a female journalist in the state’s chambers by telling her a group of high school boys "could have a lot of fun" with her. State Sen Pete Lucido, a 59-year-old Republican from Macomb County’s Shelby Township, made the comments to a group of about 30 lads visiting from his all-boys alma mater.

Reporter Allison Donahue, 22, said the remarks, made while she asked for an interview with the Republican politician, left her feeling "objectified and humiliated". Exposing the remarks in a first person article, Ms Donahue said Sen Lucido, the state’s senate majority whip, allegedly said: "You should hang around! You could have a lot of fun with these boys, or they could have a lot of fun with you." The young reporter claimed the teenage boys burst into laughter and it was clear she had "been the punchline of their ‘locker room’ talk". Ms Donahue added: "Except it wasn’t the locker room, it was the Senate chamber.

Lucido told the Detroit Free Press his comments were "blown out of proportion" and that he was "not talking about anything sexual". Instead he said he was just "geeked up about the boys coming there" and ready "to have some fun".

But later he appeared to have carried out a u-turn and issued an apology via the Michigan Senate Republican office. He said: "I apologize for the misunderstanding yesterday and for offending Allison Donahue." Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, a Clarklake Republican, said: "I take this very seriously and intend to have a very intense and lengthy conversation with the senator as soon as we’re done with a session.



https://www.the-sun.com/news/261483/republican-senator-apologizes-creepy-comments-female-reporter/