Maine GOP leaders call for closed-door meeting with governor

August 29, 2016 at 1:28 p.m. | Updated August 29, 2016 at 1:35 p.m.

by Associated Press

FILE- In this June 7, 2016, file photo, Maine Gov. Paul LePage attends an opioid abuse conference in Boston. LePage is being accused again of making racially insensitive comments, this time by saying photos he's collected in a binder of drug dealers arrested in the state show more than 90 percent of them are black or Hispanic. The governor made the remark at a town hall in North Berwick, Maine, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
FILE- In this June 7, 2016, file photo, Maine Gov. Paul LePage attends an opioid abuse conference in Boston. LePage is being accused again of making racially insensitive comments, this time by saying photos he's collected in a binder of drug dealers arrested in the state show more than 90 percent of them are black or Hispanic. The governor made the remark at a town hall in North Berwick, Maine, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - Republican leaders in Maine are calling for a closed-door meeting with GOP Gov. Paul LePage, who sparked outraged last week by leaving an obscenity-laced voicemail for a Democratic legislator and threatening violence.

Republican Senate President Mike Thibodeau (THIH'-buh-doh) says LePage should take "corrective action" for his "unacceptable" conduct. He says he hopes legislators don't have to censure the governor.

Thibodeau and House Minority Leader Ken Fredette said Monday they want to meet with LePage before deciding what to do. House Republicans will caucus Tuesday to discuss a strategy.

LePage apologized Friday to "the people of Maine" but not to Democratic Rep. Drew Gattine (gah-TEEN'), the target of his voicemail. LePage said his outburst was justified because Gattine called him a racist - something Gattine denied.

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