House GOP leaders made clear at their first press conference of the new Congress Wednesday that they are finished talking about House Majority Whip Steve Scalise’s 2002 speech to a white nationalist group.
The first question of the conference was directed at Scalise about the speech and the group’s founder, former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.
“I reject bigotry of all forms,” Scalise said. “I think when you see the people that know me best, both here and especially back home, people I’ve served with, including people that I’ve been on opposite ends politically with, who know the truth and know what’s in my heart, they’re the ones who I think speak the best.”
A follow-up question pressed Scalise on the controversy. He repeated that he rejected bigotry “of all kinds” and referred to his past statement in which he had apologized for speaking at the hate group’s meeting.
“I think that’s where the story ends,” Scalise said.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) also reaffirmed his support for Scalise when asked if Scalise’s error in judgement in speaking to the group should have prevented him from serving in House leadership.
“I, like Mr. Scalise, served in the state legislature. I remember my freshman term in the state legislature when I had a half of a staffer,” Boehner said. “You get asked to speak to a lot of groups. I think Mr. Scalise made it clear that he made an error in judgement, spoke to a group, not clear who they actually were.”
“Now I know this man. I work with him. I know what’s in his heart,” Boehner continued. “He’s a decent, honest person who made a mistake. We’ve all made mistakes.”