GOP rep calls on primary opponent to condemn campaign surrogate’s racist video

Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-Va.) called on his primary opponent Bob Good to condemn a video containing racist and homophobic remarks made by Good’s campaign surrogate circulating social media on Thursday.  

In the video, former Greene County Supervisor Eddie Deane can be heard using homophobic slurs and making controversial comments about white supremacy. 

Deane told CBS 19, a CBS affiliate based in Charlottesville, Va., he posted the video to Facebook in 2017 in response to a Black Lives Matter protest that closed down a lane of Route 29. 

“You had a black man in the president [sic] for eight years and you’re crying foul, or white supremacy? You give the devil an inch, and he’ll be your ruler. These minorities will not be satisfied,” Deane said in the video, which was first reported by CBS 19 News.

“They’re a bunch of queers and that’s the word I used years ago, that’s what I use now. They’re strange people, and they want your rights and you cannot appease them,” Deane added.

Riggleman said if Good is unwilling to denounce the video, he should drop out of the race. 

“Racism and bigotry have no place in the Republican Party or any political party,” he told The Hill.  

“I condemn these remarks and call on my opponent to condemn these vile comments. If my opponent will not condemn this video, he is not a serious candidate for any office,” he said.

Good did not respond to The Hill’s request for comment. 

The heated primary contest between Riggleman and Good is slated to take place on June 13. 

Good, who previously worked as the chief fundraiser for athletics at Liberty University, launched the primary against Riggleman, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, accusing the Virginia Republican of not being conservative enough. 

The challenge came shortly after the Rappahannock County Republican Party attempted to censure Riggleman, alleging the freshman GOP congressman of “abandoning party principles” on fiscal spending, foreign policy and immigration.

However, Riggleman’s camp has argued the censure is intended “to punish” the congressman after he officiated a same-sex wedding in July.

A group of Virginia Republicans tried to censure the congressman for officiating the wedding shortly after it took place. 

Riggleman has received endorsements from President Trump, Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr., Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) and House Judiciary Committee ranking member Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).

Good has received support from former Rep. Tom Garrett (R-Va.), who preceded Riggleman as the representative for Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, Jonathan Falwell, the pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church and former Rep. Virgil Goode (R-Va.)