The Group of NeverTrumpers Trying to Form a Third Party...? One of Their Key Signatories is a Former Republican Turned Democrat Turned... Holocaust Denier

But do keep lecturing the rest of us about White Supremacy and anti-semitism and "authoritarian tendencies."

Among the founding members of a "principled" group of "prominent Republicans" working to counter conspiracy theories is a prominent Holocaust-denier.

Pete McCloskey, a former congressman who referenced the "so-called Holocaust" in a keynote address that praised a top Holocaust-denial group, joined "A Call for American Renewal" as a founding signatory. According to former congressman Denver Riggleman, the group aims to "counter disinformation and conspiracy theories" and "step up in this fight for truth and integrity."

McCloskey served as a Republican representative for California from 1967 to 1983 but changed his affiliation to the Democratic Party in 2007. After leaving Congress, he gave the keynote address at the Institute for Historical Review's 2000 conference. An infamous Holocaust-denial group with ties to neo-Nazi organizations, IHR has described the Holocaust as "some scattered killings" of Jews. According to the group, there is "not evidence" to support "the systematic extermination of six to eight million Jews in concentration camps."

McCloskey's address to IHR members noted his "respect" for "the thesis of this organization." The former congressman also referenced the "so-called Holocaust," adding, "I don't know whether you are right or wrong about the Holocaust."

Here's that letter -- Pete McCloskey's name seems to have been scrubbed from the website. I hope someone got screenshots of the list of "founding signatories" as it originally appeared.

Well, NeverTrump is an obsessive, deranged fringe movement -- and deranged fringe movements attract, and actually welcome, this type of person.

Update: My Ridiculously Circuituous Plan points to this capture of the list of signatories as it originally appeared.

Peter McCloskey is in the middle column, about 75% of the way down. When you see Michael Steele, you know he's coming up in dozen names.

Here is a screenshot of those who are what we might call "Holocaust-Denier Adjacent," with the names of some more recognizable NeverTrumpers (to the extent there are such things) highlighted.

Oh, George Conway and Evan McMullin and all the usual suspects are on the list, too. They're just not close enough to McCloskey's name to fit in a screengrab.

posted by Ace at 02:24 PM

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