GOP House member's blackface was 'a genuine homage' to Michael Jackson

Photos of Republican Rep. Mike Lawler surfaced on Thursday that capture the New York lawmaker in blackface as part of a 2006 Halloween costume meant to depict pop superstar Michael Jackson. 

The problematic photos, originally posted on Facebook, were obtained by The New York Times. In them, Lawler can be seen striking an MJ-inspired pose while wearing a red jacket, black shirt, and jeans—with a clearly darkened face. 

“When attempting to imitate Michael’s legendary dance moves at a college Halloween party eighteen years ago, the ugly practice of blackface was the furthest thing from my mind,” Lawler said in a statement to Daily Kos. “Let me be clear, this is not that.”