Statement by Robert Regan, Republican nominee, 74th House of Representatives District
March 9, 2022 4:30PM www.Regan4Michigan.com

This afternoon, I was contacted by a Michigan State Representative to NOT release this statement. 

He asked, “What would have to happen for you not to name specific people in your release.” I told him it would take a public apology of everyone who defamed and slandered my name for me to withhold my statement. He said, “That will not happen.” So, here is my statement regarding the slanderous reporting.

In a matter of days after I beat three candidates in the special election for the 74th Michigan House seat, I became the target of villainous attacks against my reputation. These attacks came from not just the supporters of my opponents, people in my own political party and the special interests who supported them, but members of the media who pretend to be objective, fair-minded observers of events and issues. A reporter’s job is to report the facts, not some “truth” as they perceive it.

In an online forum with several political activists, an impassioned discussion ensued regarding the 2020 election in Michigan. I believe one reason I was elected was because I, like so many others, believe that our legislature and courts have failed to do an adequate investigation into allegations of election fraud. I understand many people want to move on, but election integrity is tantamount to our freedom as Americans. It is frustrating to me that there are some who want to move past the 2020 election, and cross our fingers that there will never be problems again.

It is important that the public know exactly what was said in this brief discussion because the media has failed to report it accurately. The media is often accused of taking material out of context, but I had no idea how shameless certain reporters could be about it.

What was reported, first in one publication, and then repeated in multiple other articles was this:

“If rape is inevitable, you should just lie back and enjoy it.”

However, here are my exact words:

“That’s kind of like – I have three daughters, and I tell my daughters if rape is inevitable, you should just lie back and enjoy it. That is not how we roll. That is not how I won this election. We go right at it.”

My message was intentionally truncated to make it look like I said one thing, when in fact, I was saying the exact opposite. We don’t take it laying down, nothing is inevitable, even in the face of insurmountable odds, we fight, always we fight. That is part of our fabric as American citizens when we defeated world superpower Great Britain 250 years ago.

In retrospect, knowing now how vicious my attackers could be, I regret using an analogy that could so easily have been taken out of context. My point was simply this: when there are alleged improprieties, even if the outcome seems inevitable, we must fight back and investigate so that justice can be served, and our votes are not diluted.

Incidentally, my words were clarified two other times later in that live stream by two of the participants. Had reporters watched the entire event, they would have heard this. Also, it would be apparent to any listener, the nature of that conversation was not hostile. I would encourage anyone who wants to form their own opinion to listen to the recording of the livestream or my radio interview on the matter this morning. http://farm.wchy.us/Podcasts/YDF/20220309-
ydf_h201.mp3

I’m not the first person to win an elected office and be discredited and attacked. I won my seat by 81 votes and against enormous odds. My opponents received over $100,000 dollars in soft money political contributions by any number of groups who want to maintain their “voice” in Lansing. Very often this voice is to protect their interests, not those of the common good.

 am struck by how members of my own party have attacked me, namely Speaker of the House, Jason Wentworth. Where was Speaker Wentworth when it was reported that the Michigan State Police and Lansing State Police are investigating a criminal complaint by a woman who said she was sexually assaulted as a teen by Former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield?

Even the Kent County GOP Chairman, Rob VerHeulen or the co-chairs of the MIGOP, Ron Wiser and Meshawn Maddock never contacted me to find out the truth of what really happened. Even City of Walker Mayor, Gary Carey, Jr. publicly defamed me in a Facebook post. Now I understand how President Trump felt when he discovered his biggest enemies were in his own political party; and I am not even a Trump endorsed candidate.

I ran my campaign honestly and the old-fashioned way. Many volunteers went door-to-door on my behalf. Given the vicious political climate, these people are afraid that their reputations too will be destroyed by the dark forces in both political parties. I have also had physical threats made against me which I continue to report to the authorities.