Incoming Rep. Mia Love, the first black female Republican elected to the House of Representatives, says she doesn't believe Majority Whip Steve Scalise should be forced out of his party leadership role for speaking at a white nationalist event in 2002.
Appearing Sunday on
ABC's "This Week," Love said she thought the timing of the accusation was interesting, since the event took place 12 years ago and Republicans are now poised to run both houses of Congress for the first time in Barack Obama's presidency.
"These groups are awful, and the last thing I want to do is give them any sort of publicity or credibility," Love said of the group.
She added that Scalise "has been absolutely wonderful to work with. He's been very helpful for me. And he has had the support of his colleagues."
Scalise has shown humility by apologizing for the event she said. Scalise said he was unaware at the time that the group was led by former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke.
Turning to what she wants to see now that Congress will be GOP-led, the freshman from Utah said the body has faced dysfunction because people on both sides of the aisle have said they want Americans to trust them again.
"We've got that backwards," Love said. "We have to trust the American people again, put the decision-making back in their hands so that they can make decisions in their homes, for their own healthcare, educating their own children."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.