Here's what Tom Steyer was attacking Joe Biden over during Friday night's debate
Things got heated on Friday night when hedge fund manager Tom Steyer challenged former Vice President Joe Biden to disavow one of his campaign surrogates over what black lawmakers in South Carolina have described as a racist attack.
On Wednesday, State Sen. Dick Harpootlian, a "longtime friend" of Biden's, tweeted his suspicions about South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Jerry Govan receiving "almost $50,000 for a [month's] worth of work" for Steyer, WIS News 10 reports. "Is he pocketing the dough or redistributing the wealth?" Harpootlian asked in his tweet. The senator also told The Post and Courier that Govan "told me he was with Joe Biden until Mr. Moneybags showed up ... This is what happens when billionaires get involved ... They don't have to persuade anybody, they just buy them."
Govan is a senior adviser to the Steyer campaign in South Carolina, and received pay "consistent with the salaries of other members of the team in South Carolina," Steyer's team has said. Govan also defended himself to The Post and Courier: "I have a consulting firm," he said. "I do business. In terms of having a consulting firm, there's nothing illegal or illicit or improper."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Harpootlian's insinuation that Govan was being bought by Steyer infuriated the Legislative Black Caucus in South Carolina though; about half of the 45-member body demanded Biden distance himself from Harpootlian after the comment, AP reports.
Biden refused to firmly disavow Harpootlian after Steyer's challenge on the debate stage. The former vice president said he'd spoken to Harpootlian and "he was, I believe, sorry for what he said."
-
5 blacked out cartoons about the Epstein file redactionsCartoons Artists take on hidden identities, a censored presidential seal, and more
-
How Democrats are turning DOJ lemons into partisan lemonadeTODAY’S BIG QUESTION As the Trump administration continues to try — and fail — at indicting its political enemies, Democratic lawmakers have begun seizing the moment for themselves
-
ICE’s new targets post-Minnesota retreatIn the Spotlight Several cities are reportedly on ICE’s list for immigration crackdowns
-
Judge blocks Hegseth from punishing Kelly over videoSpeed Read Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the senator to be demoted over a video in which he reminds military officials they should refuse illegal orders
-
Trump’s EPA kills legal basis for federal climate policySpeed Read The government’s authority to regulate several planet-warming pollutants has been repealed
-
House votes to end Trump’s Canada tariffsSpeed Read Six Republicans joined with Democrats to repeal the president’s tariffs
-
Bondi, Democrats clash over Epstein in hearingSpeed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi ignored survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and demanded that Democrats apologize to Trump
-
El Paso airspace closure tied to FAA-Pentagon standoffSpeed Read The closure in the Texas border city stemmed from disagreements between the Federal Aviation Administration and Pentagon officials over drone-related tests
-
Judge blocks Trump suit for Michigan voter rollsSpeed Read A Trump-appointed federal judge rejected the administration’s demand for voters’ personal data
-
US to send 200 troops to Nigeria to train armySpeed Read Trump has accused the West African government of failing to protect Christians from terrorist attacks
-
Grand jury rejects charging 6 Democrats for ‘orders’ videoSpeed Read The jury refused to indict Democratic lawmakers for a video in which they urged military members to resist illegal orders
