A lawmaker in West Virginia who narrowly won re-election in November despite offensive, private, social media messages coming to light, has spoken further about the controversy.
John Mandt Jr says he was just speaking “honestly” in a private chat and had no idea his quotes would go public.
Mandt, a Republican, is a local hotdog entrepreneur and House representative for District 16 in West Virginia. He was first elected in 2018. In early October, he resigned during his re-election campaign.
At the time, he said he was resigning to concentrate on his family and business.
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His resignation came hours after equality campaigners highlighted messages Mandt posted in a private Facebook group chat, in which he used the word ‘faggot’ as an anti-gay slur.
“Silly Faggot, Dicks are for chicks!!” Mandt allegedly wrote. He also criticized a piece of legislation as a “queer bill” and questioned another lawmaker’s sexuality because he was “a little feminine.”
Related: Gay club’s male dancers encourage Georgia voters to “swing the senate”
Screenshots of the exchange began circulating on social media on Saturday, October 3.
Was going to go to bed. Saw something upsetting.
I know a lot of Catholics think that homophobia isnt real. I have to tell you it is. It’s so real and it scares me
The “John” in these messages is John Mandt, a local state representative. This is what I see all around me. pic.twitter.com/s13tFSPMgr
— Rachel! (@RachelEnders3) October 3, 2020
Mandt resigned later that day. He posted a message on social media saying he was “really hurt and very disappointed seeing fabricated posts circulating on social media.” That message was later deleted.
Republican House Speaker Roger Hanshaw accepted Mandt’s resignation, and although not specifically addressing Mandt’s alleged language, later made a statement saying bigotry had no place in the state.
In an unexpected twist, just hours after resigning, Mandt announced he’d had a change of mind and would stand again for re-election. He told local news station WSAZ the comments had been taken out of context and: “I do apologize if anything was put out there that hurt any of you watching this right now.” He said he had LGBTQ family members and employees. He denied being a bigot.
Last week, it was announced that Mandt had narrowly won his re-election with a majority of just 71 votes.
Related: Lawmaker who resigned after calling gays “fa***t” gets reelected
On Monday, he appeared to want to wipe the slate clean and expunge his record of homophobia.
Local media outlet WOWK reports a Facebook posting Mandt made to his private followers.
“I need to speak. Things have been printed of what I’ve supposedly posted in a private chat. Honestly, I did use a gay slur in my answer to what was written on a t-shirt. I don’t use gay slurs, but I did in answering a question,” Mandt said by way of explanation.
“This was over a year and a half ago. If someone asked you a question in a group text, you’d answer the question honestly. I had no idea this would be posted on social media to hurt people. This is the reason I called WSAZ so I could publicly apologize.
“Yes, I said it privately answering a question. I would NEVER say anything to hurt anyone. You all know me. This is the ugliness of politics. I’m human. I’m just as you are and I’m here to represent you.
“Thank you for re-electing me to continue serving you! I didn’t ask for the slander, but I’ve quickly found out it comes with the position. I won’t back down now bc, unfortunately, my character has been put through the wringer. So why stop representing you? YOU KNOW I’m here for you and I’m elected to represent what you feel is right. I can sustain the hits for you! Keep me on the front line. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!!!”
Heywood Jablowme
A “hotdog entrepreneur”? Obviously gay. Probably sells eggplants and bananas on the side.
GayEGO
Apology accepted, live and learn!
nathan
Apology not accepted. People have had plenty of time to get used to what is not acceptable – too many people apologizing after the fact. They are only sorry for being caught. We are past the time of apology making.
tjack47
I find him as reprehensible as I do with the breech of privacy. Still, on the internet, assume you have a hot mic and camera on you at all times.
barryaksarben
typical goper. in private he lets his hate filled insults fly and this was a very unfunny joke that a 12 year old would roll his eyes over but then when caught tell us how they would NEVER say anything so mean. BULLSH*T he is a pos and the gop needs to be dragged into the light of honesty at every trun
slinky49
Right, apology not accepted due to lack of sincerity. It is not “slander” to tell the world what you said if you actually said it. Claiming, even if probably correctly, that you would never say the thing you said in public when you knew all manner of people might be listening does not expunge the thoughts and feelings behind the remark made “privately”. You don’t get a pass for being homophobic [or racist, transphobic, etc.] just because you keep it to yourself except in conversations you believe will not be publicly disseminated. And I doubt you’re representing me as fully as you should if you hold some degree of hatred, disgust or revulsion toward me in your thoughts even if you don’t speak of them aloud.
CityguyUSA
How is it that politicians never learn this lesson? Next weeks follow-up will be about his wide stance in a local convenience market.