Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, the No. 3-ranking House Republican, is defending himself in light of his acknowledgement Monday that he delivered a speech before a white supremacist forum in 2002. The story is generating headlines in major publications across the nation and is putting his leadership position in jeopardy as his critics call on the Majority Whip for more answers.
As CNN notes in its coverage, Democrats have wasted no time in unleashing a wave of criticism against Scalise, tying him to the rest of Republican leadership, which is days away from kicking off a new congressional term with the GOP controlling both chambers.
Scalise and spokespeople on his behalf have said the lawmaker didn’t know exactly who he was speaking to at the 2002 event, which was held in Metairie and called the National/International EURO Workshop on Civil Rights. It was organized by EURO, a white nationalist organization founded by David Duke, a former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.
DNC Communications Director Mo Elleithee tells CNN that Scalise’s explanation doesn’t pass the “smell test.”
“These questions are just the tip of the iceberg—Rep. Scalise and all of Republican leadership need to start giving some real answers soon,” Elleithee says.
The Washington Post reached Duke by phone at his Mandeville home on Monday. Duke recalled Scalise as a “nice guy” and said he was invited to the conference by two of Duke’s longtime associates: Howie Farrell, who had worked on Duke’s gubernatorial campaign, and Kenny Knight.
Scalise “says he didn’t realize what the conference was. I don’t know if he did or did not,” Duke tells the newspaper.
Duke says Scalise should not be forced to resign, adding he was merely taking an opportunity to meet with “constituents.”
“What politician would ever pass up an opportunity to talk to his constituents?” Duke says. “It sounds like they are just playing politics.”
In a statement, Scalise’s spokeswoman, Moira Bagley Smith, emphasized that the then-state lawmaker was unaware at the time of the group’s ideology and mission.
“He has never been affiliated with the abhorrent group in question,” Smith says. “The hate-fueled ignorance and intolerance that group projects is in stark contradiction to what Mr. Scalise believes and practices as a father, a husband, and a devoted Catholic.”
