Maine senator won't resign over post tying Obama to IS group

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A state senator said Wednesday that he has no intention of resigning over a series of offensive Facebook posts, including one that suggests President Barack Obama's family members are part of the Islamic State group.

The Maine Democratic Party has called on Republican Sen. Michael Willette to step down over what they described as a "prolific online history of racist and bigoted remarks."

But Willette, who represents areas in the northernmost county of Maine, told reporters that he doesn't see the need to resign. He apologized to his colleagues for his behavior and promised his "mistake in judgment" won't be repeated.

Willette was criticized this week for sharing a photo of Obama on Facebook that pretended to use the president's words, saying of the Islamic State group, "I'll deal with them at the family reunion."

In posts that were later made public by a liberal blogger, Willette expressed animosity toward Muslims and suggested that members of Obama's administration are part of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Democratic Party said Willette's Facebook posts show a clear pattern of inappropriate behavior that cannot be tolerated.