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SALT LAKE CITY — Democratic challenger Greg Skordas called on Republican Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes to condemn remarks President Donald Trump made about white supremacists in a presidential debate this week.
Skordas said there is no place for hatred in America and pledged to reject the support of any white supremacist groups.
“White supremacist ideology has a long, violent history in America, and has no place in Utah or our country,” Skordas said Thursday. “I firmly denounce any comments that encourage these groups and pledge to never accept their endorsement or support. I’m calling on Attorney General Reyes to publicly say the same.”
Reyes’ campaign spokeswoman Lee Rech said Skordas is “grasping at straws again.”
Reyes, the first minority to be elected to statewide office in Utah, has condemned and will continue to condemn white supremacy in all its forms, she said, adding Reyes himself has been the victim of racial attacks.
“When the president was asked by the moderator, ‘Are you willing to condemn white supremacist and militia groups?’ Trump responded, ‘Sure, I am willing to do that,’” Rech said. “Reyes will continue to support the president in condemning these groups.”
Trump has endorsed Reyes’ reelection bid.
Trump refused to condemn white supremacists and armed militia members during a debate Tuesday with Democratic nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden.
“Are you willing to condemn white supremacists and militia groups and to say that they need to stand down and not add to the violence in a number of these cities?” moderator Chris Wallace asked.
After initially saying “sure,” Trump said, “I’m prepared to do that, but I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing, not from the right wing.”
The president tried Wednesday to clarify his position on white supremacists as members of his own party urged him to more clearly condemn the right wing group known as the Proud Boys, whom he told to “stand back and stand by” during the debate.
Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday, “I don’t know who the Proud Boys are, you’ll have to give me a definition.” He added, “Whoever they are, they have to stand down, let law enforcement do their work.”
