In his first TV interview on the topic, former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke told CNN’s Michael Smerconish that Rep. Steve Scalise may have attended a gathering of a white supremacist group that he founded. The controversy surrounding Scalise’s appearance has sparked calls for the No. 3-ranking House Republican to resign from his role as Majority Whip.
“I’ve got conflicting reports,” Duke said on today’s Smerconish. “One person said that he was a no-show, that he was scheduled to come — one person said that he did come. I just don’t know what the truth is.” Duke added that “it seems that Mr. Scalise thinks he may have. That’s why he’s — he’s covering himself.”
In the sit-down interview, Duke also threatened to “name names” of lawmakers with whom he’s “had relationships” if they continue to attack the Louisiana Republican.”I would name names of any Democrat — and I know some Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives — who tried, in fact urged me, to support them, legally, in fact I did,” he said.
“I was not his supporter, he was not my supporter. I did not contribute to him, he did not contribute to me, okay?” Duke continued when pressed by Smerconish. “He was not a member of my organization — he was an early young representative who just got elected in Louisiana, and he was pushing a tax program, and he was coming to constituents. And again, I believe that every elected official has a responsibility to hear out people who are right wing, left wing.”