GOP Senate Candidate Ends Press Conference After Dodging Questions About Son-in-Law’s White Nationalist Posts

Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images.

Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), the Georgia Senate hopeful, refused to answer questions from reporters about his son-in-law’s slew of white nationalist and anti-semitic posts on Thursday, instead choosing to attack his opponent, Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA).

On July 16, CNN’s KFile published a report revealing that Collins’ son-in-law, influencer David Alan Scheer II, using social media, promoted the white nationalist hate group Patriot Front, called for Muslims to be deported, and spread antisemitic conspiracy theories — including one infographic targeting Jews that he claimed Collins’ daughter created.

KFile further reported that Scheer maintains a close relationship to the Collins family, appearing in campaign and family photos, attending Collins’ Senate primary victory party, and being registered to vote at a Collins-owned property adjacent to the congressman’s Georgia home.

In comments made a week later to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution’s Tia Mitchell, Collins said, “Nobody speaks for me, and I don’t speak for anybody else.” On the allegations of anti-Semitism, he added, “I think it’s pretty clear on where I’ve always stood with Israel,” pointing to his supporting voting record in the House of Representatives.

On Thursday, however, when asked for further comment, Collins told reporters, “You know, we fully addressed that. But Jon Ossoff refuses to disavow these Democrat socialist movements in our country. As a matter of fact, he embraces that. You know, Jon Ossoff should answer for voting for men being in women’s locker rooms.”

A reporter was then heard trying to interject, “Can you address the —”

“Jon Ossoff should, should answer — Jon, Jon Ossoff should answer why he voted for this massive spending bill out there that has jumpstarted inflation and caused prices to go up on average Georgians out there. Jon Ossoff should answer for why he supported any cash bail, why he supported the open borders, why he supported, why he supported these radical anti-Israel extremists,” claimed Collins. “These aren’t Georgia values, y’all. That’s what he needs to answer for.”

Reporters continued to attempt to ask questions about his son-in-law.

“And the people,” Collins went on, “and the people will, will choose to get rid of him in November.”

The congressman agreed to answer one more question, calling on “the young lady right there,” before seemingly changing his mind, telling the press, “Listen, I appreciate y’all’s time,” and leaving the podium.

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