Maine Republican Gov. Paul LePage says he's considering resignation after a string of controversies last week and that he plans to meet with a Democratic lawmaker to make amends for leaving an obscene rant on his voicemail that said, "I am after you."
Speaking on WVOM-FM radio Tuesday, LePage said his tirade was "unacceptable and totally my fault."
He said he's going to meet with family and close advisers to decide what to do next. He said, "we're considering a whole bunch of options at this point."
He added he hopes Maine residents will forgive him and say, "You clean up your act and let's move forward."
necn has reached out to LePage for comment.
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Meanwhile, Maine Senate President Michael Thibodeau expects LePage to call him today to follow up on their meeting Monday evening, Thibodeau's spokesperson told necn.
LePage had been angry with Democratic Rep. Drew Gattine because he thought Gattine called him a racist. Gattine denies it.
"I want you to prove that I'm a racist," LePage said in the voicemail, adding that he had spent his life helping black people and calling Gattine a vulgar name related to oral sex. "I want you to record this and make it public because I am after you."
On the radio show LePage said being called a racist "just knocked me off my feet."
Democratic lawmakers last week argued that LePage was coming unhinged and called for a political intervention with the governor. Some also asked for him to resign.
Last week LePage apologized to "the people of Maine" — but not to Gattine.
While on WVOM-FM he added, "I will call to see if we can meet."
"If I've lost my ability to help Maine people, maybe it's time to move on," LePage said on WVOM-FM, as the Portland Press Herald first reported.
Later Tuesday, LePage downplayed his comments, tweeting a Mark Twain quip. He also cancelled a town hall appearance planned for Wednesday in Gattine's hometown of Westbrook.
The governor's comments on Tuesday came after he reportedly doubled down on some of his statements regarding race and drugs, even linking Maine's opioid epidemic to black and Hispanic offenders and the cities of Lowell and Lawrence in Massachusetts.
Maine Senate President Michael Thibodeau expects LePage to call him today to follow up on a meeting they held Monday evening, a Thibodeau spokesperson told necn.