A Republican congressman who was once kicked out of Michael Jackson’s molestation trial said Thursday night that his desire to “pay homage” to the pop star inspired him to don blackface for a Halloween party during his college days. “I certainly understand why people would be upset or offended by it, and for that, I’m sorry,” Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) said Thursday on CNN. “There was no ill intent. There was no effort to malign or make fun of or disparage Black Americans. It was really an effort to pay homage to somebody who was a musical idle for me.” The comments came hours after The New York …