Trump supporters use robocalls to attack Utah rival with gay smears
Trump supporters are using a homophobic automated robocall campaign in Utah, to attack a third-party candidate who is surging in the state.
Independent Republican candidate Evan McMullin has been making strong gains in his heavily-Mormon home state, with Donald Trump facing a potential loss to McMullin, the former chief policy director for Republicans in Congress
Ahead of the election next week, a pro-Trump automated call has barraged voters in the state – attempting to dissuade them from voting for McMullin by branding him a “closet homosexual”.
The call, reported by The Daily Beast, states: “Evan is over 40 years old and is not married and doesn’t even have a girlfriend. I believe Evan is a closet homosexual.
“Evan has two mommies. His mother is a lesbian, married to another woman. Evan is okay with that. Indeed Evan supports the Supreme Court ruling legalising gay marriage.
“Don’t vote for Evan McMullin. Vote for Donald Trump. He will respect all women and be a president we can all be proud of.”
Mr McMullin says he believes in “traditional marriage” but respects the Supreme Court ruling on the issue.
The call, which has not been tied to the official Trump campaign, appears to be from a super PAC controlled by self-described “white nationalist” William Johnson. The Daily Beast reports that Johnson previously served as a delegate for Trump.
Mr McMullin said: “Another desperate attack from GOP nominee Donald Trump and his racist supporters as he continues to lose ground in Utah.
“This attack is consistent with Donald Trump’s bigoted, deceitful campaign and vision for America. Utahns won’t be fooled.
“Will Utah GOP leaders continue to stand with Donald Trump and white nationalists’ as they attack my faith and spread baseless lies?
“I’ve stood for liberty and equality in this race; it’s natural for Donald Trump’s white supremacists to attack me. A fight worth having.”
The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
