September 23, 2022

Joe Kent called Jan 6 insurrection a “phony riot,” espoused “replacement theory,” courts support from prominent white nationalists

Kent & Smiley campaigned together for Trump in 2020

***LISTEN: Kent calls Tiffany Smiley “Pure MAGA,” “100% a great conservative”***

(Amboy, WA) – This week, far-right extremist and congressional candidate Joe Kent called Tiffany Smiley “pure MAGA” and “100 percent a great conservative” as he urged MAGA Republicans to turn out to vote for her at a campaign event in Amboy.

“I personally know Tiffany,” said Kent in recorded audio. “Tiffany is a great American … She is 100% a great conservative, a great Republican, pure MAGA.”

While Smiley has made headlines for trying — and failing — to distance herself from the extreme positions she took ahead of the primary election, her MAGA extremism is becoming more and more obvious the longer she is on the campaign trail and continues associating herself with extremists like Dinesh D’Souza and Joe Kent. 

Joe Kent has prominent white nationalist ties…

Joe Kent, who is endorsed by Donald Trump, has proudly associated himself with white nationalists, including hiring a campaign consultant who was a member of the Proud Boys — a far-right, neo-fascist group that the Southern Poverty Law Center has designated as a Hate Group. Kent has also espoused racist conspiracy theories and said there is “nothing wrong with a white people special interest group.”

Joe Kent is an election denier who spread conspiracy theories about Jan 6th…

Kent has downplayed and spread conspiracy theories about the January 6th insurrection – which he called  a “phony riot” —  saying “it reeks of an absolute intelligence operation” and “none of this is on President Trump.” Kent has also said the 2020 election was “stolen” and “rigged.”

Joe Kent is one of the most extreme far-right candidates of the 2022 cycle. 

Kent said “we are in a war with the Left,” is endorsed by Donald Trump, and wants a national ban on abortion. He has praised Congressman Matt Gaetz, who is under investigation for possible sex trafficking, and called Marjorie Taylor Greene, who promotes dangerous antisemitic conspiracy theories, “a great fighter.”

“In case it wasn’t clear before, it’s crystal clear now: there is NO daylight between Tiffany Smiley and Joe Kent. Tiffany Smiley is an extreme MAGA candidate that even Joe Kent can get behind,” said Caitlin Harrington, Washington State Democratic Party spokesperson. “No moderate Republican would get anywhere near right-wing extremists like Joe Kent and Dinesh D’Souza, but Tiffany Smiley is cozying up to them, courting their votes, and seeking their support on the campaign trail. She does not represent our values and is way too extreme for Washington state.” 

Earlier this month, Smiley headlined a campaign event with notorious election denying conspiracy theorist Dinesh D’Souza, who has spread outlandish conspiracies about 9/11 and been one of the leading promoters of Donald Trump’s “Big Lie” that the 2020 election was stolen.

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