Fischer lied about having the support of Angus King and having over 1,000 endorsements
A new report from HuffPost reveals serious concerns about endangered Senator Deb Fischer’s endorsement claims, alleging she falsely touted over 1,000 endorsements, many of which are controversial. Politico previously reported that Fischer misrepresented her support from Angus King in campaign mailers.
Among the endorsements highlighted are individuals with criminal backgrounds, including a man convicted of voter fraud, a bank fraudster, a former congressman-turned-Huawei lobbyist, and several GOP figures facing credible allegations of sexual misconduct.
Fischer’s original endorsement list featured repeated and deceased names, falling significantly short of her claim of 1,000. After presenting an alternate list to counter evidence, it was found to still include over 100 duplicates and deceased individuals, reducing her actual count to approximately 930, including 26 organizations.
“Deb Fischer isn’t just inflating her endorsement numbers, she’s also flaunting support from criminals – including one who committed voter fraud,” said American Bridge 21st Century spokesperson Nico Delgado. “Fischer is sending a clear message to Nebraska voters that she has no problem lying and cozying up to criminals.”
HuffPost: Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer Touts Endorsement Of Man Convicted Of Voter Fraud, Other Disreputable Republicans
Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), who faces an unexpectedly competitive reelection battle, claims to have more than 1,000 endorsements — a group that includes current and former elected officials, conservative activists, farmers and business people.
But until adding 76 names this week, Fischer’s total fell well short of 1,000.
And perhaps more important, some of the folks on her list might not be people whose blessing is worth advertising.
Take Michael Hannum, a conservative activist from Douglas County, whom the Fischer campaign describes as a “pro-life warrior for Fischer.” In 2016, Hannum pleaded guilty to voting illegally in both Kansas and Nebraska in the 2012 election. He paid a fine of $5,500 as punishment. Ironically, Hannum, who claimed the double vote was a mistake due to travel between homes in the two states, got caught up in a Kansas state law that empowered then-Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R) to prosecute alleged election fraud. Kobach, a right-wing demagogue, has unsuccessfully claimed that mass voter fraud hurt former President Donald Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 elections. Meanwhile, Hannum is not the first Republican to be caught for a crime the right pretends is perpetrated by the left en masse.
Jack Poulsen is another not-so-wholesome name on the endorsement page. Poulsen, who is listed among the endorsements as a Wheeler County commissioner even though the county commission website no longer has his name, pleaded guilty to federal bank fraud charges in May. The Department of Justice accused Poulsen of using his position as president of a regional bank to direct illegal loans to a relative that cost the bank $800,000 in losses. Poulsen’s actions contributed to the 2020 collapse of the bank he led, which had been in existence for over 60 years. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison in August.
In addition, Fischer touts the endorsements of five former Republican elected officials or candidates who have been credibly accused of physical or sexual misconduct.
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Finally, Fischer has been a critic of the Chinese telecommunications infrastructure maker Huawei, arguing that use of its materials in U.S. infrastructure has exposed the United States to Chinese surveillance, especially in rural areas that are home to U.S. military and national security facilities. The United States’ Federal Communications Commission banned the sale of equipment from Huawei and other Chinese companies in 2022, citing similar concerns, but Fischer wants to go further, requiring telecommunications companies to rip out Huawei hardware in existing infrastructure like cell towers.
But Fischer also highlights an endorsement from former U.S. Rep. Lee Terry (R). Terry, who left Congress after losing reelection in 2014, worked as a lobbyist for Huawei in 2021 at a time when the company was hoping to avoid the kinds of restrictions that the FCC imposed in 2022.
The Fischer campaign declined to comment on any of the controversial people whose endorsements are included on her campaign website.
When HuffPost presented the campaign with evidence that the number of duplicate names and deceased people on Fischer’s endorsements list pushed the total number of endorsers well below 1,000, the campaign presented an alternate list of more than 1,000 names that it said excluded duplicates and promised there would soon be 76 additional endorsements.
In fact, the new list that the Fischer campaign provided to HuffPost still had more than 100 duplicate names or deceased people, bringing the total number of endorsers, including 26 organizations, down to about 930. However, the addition of 76 more names, which occurred after HuffPost’s inquiry, brings her total to more than 1,000.
Read the full story in HuffPost.
Published: Oct 17, 2024 | Last Modified: Oct 20, 2024