LANSING — After announcing yesterday that he would be stepping down from his post as Detroit Police Chief next month, James Craig went on a media blitz in which he dodged question after question intended to establish where he stands on the most basic of issues.
Over appearances on Laura Ingraham, Newsmax, WJR 760, and other outlets within the past 24 hours, Craig refused to denounce the Big Lie that led to the insurrection on January 6th or answer a straightforward question about what kind of Republican he is.
“James Craig’s repeated refusal to answer basic questions where he stands on major issues of importance for Michigan and national Republicans is telling. He either knows that Trump’s Big Lie is a farce and doesn’t want to anger those he’ll soon be asking to rally behind him or he’s so extreme he can’t even call out ongoing false claims about the election, which sparked an insurrection that killed five and injured over 100 officers on January 6th,” said Rodericka Applewhate, MDP spokesperson. “While Craig sticks his finger in the wind to decide which direction to go in, Governor Whitmer has been moving confidently forward to get working Michiganders back at their jobs and their children back in schools.”
Read the transcripts of Craig’s major dodges below:
Craig Dodges on the Big Lie
Detroit PD: Monday Afternoon Retirement Press Conference
[Reporter]: Do you think the 2020 election it was fraud? Widespread fraud in Michigan and around the country? And what are your thoughts on Republican leaders like former President Trump, some of the Republican Party national, and a lot of Michigan legislators here who say that it was a Big Lie?
[James Craig]: …I’m not going to talk about politics today. There will be a time and place for that, but this is not today.
Craig Dodges on Being a Trump Supporter
WDIV 4: Tuesday morning interview with Evrod Cassimy
[James Craig]: …I’m a conservative.
[Evrod Cassimy]: Okay. Are you a Trump supporter though?
[JC]: You know, I’m not going to get into politics right now. There’s some things certainly I thought the president did very well. But as I indicated in the presser yesterday — and I know that the Michigan Democrats criticized me for “dodging” as they call it. I didn’t dodge anything. That’s not who I am.
