Republican Virginia Senate candidate Corey Stewart denied being racist on Sunday and claimed he didn’t know Jason Kessler was a white nationalist when he first became associated with him.
“At that time, I did not know that he was,” Stewart said during an interview on MSNBC’s “Kasie DC,” referring to Kessler, the man who organized the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va., that resulted in the death of a counter-protester. “After we found out he was a racist, I wanted nothing else to do with him ever again.”
“Now, you know, I need all my supporters, I want people to vote for me,” he continued. “But at the same time, I don’t control what’s in their hearts and their minds. I only control what’s in my heart and my mind, and I don’t have a racist bone in my body.”
GOP Senate nominee in Virginia, @CoreyStewartVA, denies charges of racism
“It’s not true. I dont’ have a racist bone in my body.”
So what was he doing spending time with the organizer of that deadly Charlottesville rally? His response: pic.twitter.com/PIB8hk36dG
— Kasie DC (@KasieDC) June 17, 2018
Stewart on Sunday also touted the anti-immigration record he has established as chair of the Board of Supervisors of Prince William County, Va.
When asked for his view on President Trump’s decision to enforce a “zero-tolerance” policy toward illegal border crossings, including separating minors from their guardians as they are prosecuted over their immigration status, he said it was “unavoidable.”
“The question, though, is really what is in the best interest of the United States. That’s our immigration policy,” Stewart replied.
MUST WATCH:@kasie: “How is this an American policy?”@CoreyStewartVA: “The question, though, is really what is in the best interest of the United States. That’s our immigration policy.”
Kasie: “And that’s more important than these children?”
Stewart: “Absolutely.” pic.twitter.com/nMb7JZSuMb
— Kasie DC (@KasieDC) June 17, 2018
Stewart has adopted an aggressive, pro-Trump strategy for his campaign against incumbent Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.
“I do think that he thinks only of himself. He’s thinking only about his own left wing ideology,” he said, responding in the affirmative when pressed on whether he believes Kaine “hates America.”
WOW. @kasie: “Do you think Tim Kaine hates America?”@CoreyStewartVA: “Yes, I do.”
His full answer here –> pic.twitter.com/xOYQj577mv
— Kasie DC (@KasieDC) June 18, 2018
Stewart will compete again Kaine in the general election on Nov. 6.
