In Scalise controversey, David Duke threatens to expose politicians with KKK ties
This week U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise is under fire after he acknowledged that he had spoken to a white nationalist group founded by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.
This week, U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise is under fire after he acknowledged that he had spoken to a white nationalist group founded by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. While Scalise isn’t being accused of saying anything overtly racist to the European-American Unity and Rights Organization, just the act of being there has raised some brows.
Now Duke himself is coming to Scalise’s defense, issuing a warning to Republicans who have criticized Scalise by saying they “better be looking over their shoulders.”
In an interview with Fusion, Duke admitted he has ties to politicians on both sides of the aisle and is prepared to release names if scrutiny of Scalise continues:
Overall, Duke was rather flabbergasted by the new focus on Scalise. He said he has hosted both Democratic and Republican legislators at everything from conferences to his children’s birthday parties. He said he has met with Democratic legislators at least 50 times in his political life.
And he delivered a warning to both Republicans and Democrats: Treat Scalise fairly, and don’t try to make political hay out of the situation. Or he said he would be inclined to release a list of names of all the politicians — both Republicans and Democrats — with whom he has ties.
“If Scalise is going to be crucified — if Republicans want to throw Steve Scalise to the woods, then a lot of them better be looking over their shoulders,” Duke said.
Scalise himself is claiming ignorance in all this. When asked why he had met with the European-American Unity and Rights Organization, in 2002, his explanation was simple, “I didn’t know who all of these groups were, and I detest any kind of hate group.”
But is that defense enough for the third ranking house Republican to put this to rest?
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