Last month, a number of conservative elected officials found themselves under fire for their participation in the America First Political Action Conference, or AFPAC—a gathering of white nationalists, led by vocal racist, homophobe, and antisemite Nick Fuentes.
As should've been expected, the event was riddled with incendiary rhetoric designed to boost support for racist and christofascist policies in the United States. At the event, Fuentes boasted that the "secret sauce" to their movement was "young white men." He also led chants in support of Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, a U.S. ally
The most prominent officials at the event were Congressman Paul Gosar of Arizona and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, both of whom were criticized by members of their own party for participating in the event.
Now, Idaho's far-right Lieutenant Governor and Republican gubernatorial candidate, Janice McGeachin, is facing similar scrutiny for her appearance at AFPAC.
Watch below.
This is an incredible exchange between a local reporter and a far right politician:
reporter @KTVBBrian presses Idaho Lt. Gov McGeachin on speaking at a white nationalist conference last month.
Via @KTVB pic.twitter.com/VZynGHu3SK
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) March 16, 2022
McGeachin was repeatedly asked by persistent KTVB reporter Brian Holmes if she knew who Fuentes was ahead of the appearance.
What followed was a veritable word salad:
"Well, you know what? Nick Fuentes, as I said, I don't know him. I've never met him. I don't know, y'know, what is, what is everything that he says or doesn't say does not reflect on who I am or who the thousands of others that are participating in this movement."
When Holmes attempted to confirm that McGeachin hadn't looked Fuentes up prior to the appearance, she responded "I didn't say that." She clarified that she's looked him up since the incident.
McGeachin later added:
"It's not fair. I mean, the mainstream media, you do this to conservatives all the time, but you never do it to yourself. That any time there's any kind of affiliation with anybody at anytime on any stage, that we're all guilty by association. And it's not appropriate."
After Holmes continued pressing the issue, McGeachin ended the interview and walked away.
Social media users weren't buying her comments.
Everyone who spoke at a white nationalist conference thrown by Nick Fuentes knew it was a white nationalist conference and knew who Nick Fuentes was. They just don't want to face consequences for buddying up with white nationalists. https://t.co/WNkyDN0OCE
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) March 16, 2022
if you dont recognize this republican, she's the one who posed in an ad with a gun on top of the bible https://t.co/jDLHefryLu pic.twitter.com/7p8M13rwkn
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) March 16, 2022
"That's guilt by association" is a weak defense when the association is intentional, and driven by the reason the association is unwelcome. https://t.co/ULDxHsb80y
— Dr. Mansa Keita (@rasmansa) March 16, 2022
She is lying. The Lt. Gov. attended a white nationalist conference. She is associated and regularly has met with white nationalists. If they are 'young conservatives' then that says everything we know about what has happened to that movement. This is pathetic. https://t.co/IsCnNM7zRD
— Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) March 16, 2022
The wildest part about this is that she keeps claiming over and over that she's not guilty by association and that Fuentes has his own beliefs that apparently aren't hers, but then goes on to repeat literal white supremacist talking points a few seconds later. https://t.co/QywOZ7zv2a
— Melanie Schmitz-Psomas (@MelsLien) March 16, 2022
Well, I'm glad she acknowledged that the Nick Fuentes crowd represents conservatism. https://t.co/ce3LB6OPQU
— Daryle Lamont Jenkins (@DLamontJenkins) March 16, 2022
Others praised Holmes' line of questioning.
We need more reporters like this. https://t.co/sI6Z3Uy83b
— April is in ATL (@ReignOfApril) March 16, 2022
Good stuff. More of this please! https://t.co/6skTEy51uG
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) March 16, 2022
Excellent job by this reporter. Agree with @mehdirhasan. More of this, please. If these Republican politicians want to address white nationalist conferences as part of their political strategy, they should at least be asked to explain why. https://t.co/7Ow1iQeMpP
— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid 😷 (@JoyAnnReid) March 16, 2022
If McGeachin wins the Republican primary, she's almost certain to become the next governor of Idaho.
