Michigan State Senator Apologizes For Allegedly Making Sexist Remark To Young Reporter

Michigan State Senator Pete Lucido rendered an apology Wednesday for allegedly making an inappropriate comment to a 22-year-old reporter in front of a visiting group of high school boys.

The reporter, Allison Donahue claimed Wednesday that Lucido “objectified and humiliated” her in the presence of the boys from De La Salle Collegiate, an all-boys’ school in Warren which happens to be his alma mater.

“You should hang around! You could have a lot of fun with these boys, or they could have a lot of fun with you,” she quoted Lucido as saying.

Donahue said she was visiting Lucido for coaxing his comment on the ongoing issue of linking him with an anarchist Facebook group. He agreed to address the issue after having honored the group of students. She said the boys burst into an “Old Boys’ Network-type of laughter” hearing his remark.

“I walked away knowing that I had been the punchline of their “locker room” talk,” Donahue added. She was appalled to see Lucido trying to amuse them at her expense in a senate chamber. Her report attracted widespread criticism against him.

The Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate reportedly said they have asked the Senate Business Office to probe into the matter to ascertain if it violated Senate rules related to sexual harassment.

Lucido, a 59-year-old Republican from Macomb County’s Shelby Township, apologized Wednesday. “I apologize for the misunderstanding yesterday and for offending Allison Donahue," he said in a short statement, according to the Detroit Free Press.

He, however, earlier told the publication that he was "not talking about anything sexual," and the matter was “blown out of proportion." He said he didn’t owe Donahue an apology.

De La Salle Collegiate school said Wednesday his comments don’t represent the values and conduct they instill in their pupils. “We are very sorry the reporter was put in this position and we have met with the boys who were on the tour to discuss the improper nature of this situation,” the school said in Twitter.

Lucido is designated as a leader in the senate state. He chairs Senate Judiciary and Public Safety, Advice and Consent committees, and the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. He is also a member of the Senate Elections and Oversight committees and has recently expressed interest in running for governor.