INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - An Indiana Republican’s Senate campaign said Wednesday
that it has fired an aide affiliated with the white nationalist movement who
recently formed a super PAC backing embattled Alabama Senate candidate Roy
Moore.
Caleb C. Shumaker was a contract employee who gathered ballot petition
signatures for Mike Braun, his campaign said in a statement. Social media
postings made by Shumaker in October and November show him promoting Braun
and making appearances on the candidate’s behalf at GOP events around the
state.
"The
Braun campaign briefly contracted with Mr. Shumaker to collect signatures
for ballot access. Once we became aware of Mr. Shumaker’s past comments and
associations, his contract was terminated immediately,” Braun adviser Barney
Keller said in a statement. “Mike Braun strongly and unequivocally condemns
Mr. Shumaker’s disgusting beliefs and believes they have no place in
American politics.”
Reached by phone Wednesday, Shumaker took issue with the campaign’s
characterization of his departure at the beginning of the month and said he
left for family reasons. He condemned racism and told The Associated Press
that he is no longer affiliated with the white nationalist group National
Youth Front. The 25-year-old, meanwhile, praised Moore, an evangelical
conservative who has been accused of having inappropriate sexual contact
with teenagers while in his 30s.
He
says he recently formed his Indiana First PAC to back candidates, like
Moore, who will support President Donald Trump’s agenda. The group has yet
to file paperwork with the Federal Election Commission, and it’s unclear how
much - if any - money it has raised.
That
didn’t stop Moore, whose campaign touted the endorsement of Shumaker’s super
PAC in a press release.
“I’m
a conservative. I believe strongly in conservative principles. I’m a person
of faith. I believe strongly in Christian conservatism,” said Shumaker, who
lives in Evansville, Indiana. “I condemn any form of racism, especially
white nationalism. I don’t think America has any room for it.”
But
racially charged internet postings from 2014 list Shumaker as chairman of
National Youth Front, and a YouTube channel listed as belonging to the group
bears Shumaker’s name.
“There has been a lack of nationalist spirit in our youth, a lack of pride
for ourselves and our people. If we are to survive we must embrace its
ideals with a zealousness,” a December 2014 posting attributed to Shumaker
states. “It is imperative to reject socialist and antiwhite agendas. To
refute and shame feminist ideologies that cripple the integrity and pride of
a man and pit our sexes against each other.”
Shumaker said the posting, which bears a picture of him, was falsely
attributed to him.
Braun, a self-funded businessman and former Indiana lawmaker, jumped into
the GOP Senate primary in August. He’s poured more than $800,000 of his own
money into the race, establishing himself as a credible candidate in a
primary that also includes GOP Reps. Luke Messer and Todd Rokita.
Moore faces Democrat Doug Jones in a special Dec. 12 election that will
determine who fills Attorney General Jeff Sessions old Senate seat.