Video shows Iowa candidate Joe Mitchell making crude remarks in 2017
Video recorded in 2017, when Joe Mitchell was 19 and a Drake University student, shows him making crude remarks about his own body, black women and white people. Mitchell is now a Republican congressional candidate in Iowa’s competitive 2nd District, endorsed by Donald Trump and backed by Turning Point Action, so the recording has drawn attention to his past conduct.
The video was supplied by a former college friend who said she had not spoken to Mitchell since university. His campaign attorney did not dispute its authenticity and accused political opponents of trying to damage the campaign. Mitchell said he had grown up since he was 19 and pointed to his business, nonprofit and affordable housing work; accompanying Snapchat screenshots appear to show him mentioning alcohol violations and taking Xanax.
In short
- A 2017 video shows Mitchell making crude remarks.
- Mitchell, now 29, says he has grown up.
- His campaign did not dispute the video’s authenticity.
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The case for
Voters can reasonably see the recording as relevant to judging a candidate’s character and respect for others, particularly because it includes remarks about race and appears to show him discussing alcohol violations and Xanax use. They may argue that scrutiny is part of assessing someone seeking public office, and that his current endorsements and political role make his past conduct newsworthy.
The case against
Voters can also reasonably distinguish crude remarks made at 19 from a candidate’s present character, especially when several years have passed and he says he has matured and points to later business, nonprofit and housing work. They may question the weight given to a recording supplied by a former friend and argue that campaign opponents could be using old private conduct to distract from his current record and positions.
Explained simply
Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District is a competitive US House seat, where voters choose a representative to serve in Congress. Joe Mitchell is a Republican candidate who has received endorsements from Donald Trump and support from Turning Point Action, a conservative political organisation.
The recording dates from Mitchell’s time as a student at Drake University in 2017, when he was 19. His campaign attorney has not disputed that it is authentic, while Mitchell has said he has grown since then and has pointed to his later business, nonprofit and housing work.
The account of how the video came to light also matters: it was provided by a former college friend who says she has not spoken to Mitchell since university. The dispute over the recording puts his past comments and his response in focus as voters assess the candidates.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Damning video reveals vulgar rant of MAGA star Joe Mitchell, then-19, about ‘black women’ and not liking ‘f***ing white people’ while boasting about his own manhood”.