Rep. Mike Collins walked away from a Thursday press briefing after refusing to answer questions about social‑media posts by his son‑in‑law that CNN's KFile reported promoted the white‑nationalist group Patriot Front and spread antisemitic material. KFile said the son‑in‑law, David Alan Scheer II, appears closely tied to the Collins family and is registered at a Collins‑owned property. Collins instead attacked Sen. Jon Ossoff on several policy issues and left the podium, a move that has intensified scrutiny of his campaign ties as the Georgia Senate race continues.
Georgia GOP Senate Candidate Walks Off Pressing Briefing After Dodging Questions About Son‑in‑Law’s White‑Nationalist Posts
Mike Collins
Rep. Mike Collins (R‑Ga.), the Republican nominee in Georgia's U.S. Senate race, abruptly ended a press briefing Thursday after refusing to answer reporters' questions about social‑media posts by his son‑in‑law that CNN's KFile reported promoted a white‑nationalist group and circulated antisemitic content. Instead of addressing the allegations, Collins pivoted to criticizing his general election opponent, Sen. Jon Ossoff (D‑Ga.), and then left the podium.
Background: CNN KFile Report
On July 16, CNN's KFile published reporting that influencer David Alan Scheer II used social platforms to promote the white‑nationalist group Patriot Front, urged the deportation of Muslims, and spread antisemitic conspiracy theories — including an infographic he said was created by Collins' daughter. KFile also reported that Scheer appears in campaign and family photos, attended Collins' primary victory party, and is registered to vote at a Collins‑owned property adjacent to the congressman's Georgia residence.
Collins' Prior Remarks
A week after the CNN report, Collins told the Atlanta Journal‑Constitution's Tia Mitchell:
"Nobody speaks for me, and I don't speak for anybody else."He also defended his record on Israel, saying,
"I think it's pretty clear on where I've always stood with Israel,"citing his votes in the House of Representatives.
Thursday's Press Exchange
When reporters pressed Collins for further comment Thursday, he declined to address the specifics and repeatedly attacked Sen. Ossoff instead. Collins accused Ossoff of failing to repudiate what he called "Democrat socialist movements," and blamed him for votes Collins said harmed Georgia voters — including support for a large spending bill, contested criminal‑justice policies, and positions Collins described as "open borders" and backing "radical anti‑Israel extremists."
"Jon Ossoff should answer for voting for men being in women's locker rooms," Collins said, then continued listing critiques before telling the press, "Listen, I appreciate y'all's time," and leaving the podium.
Reporters attempted multiple times to ask follow‑ups about the son‑in‑law's alleged posts, but Collins did not return to that topic during the walk‑off. The confrontation has intensified scrutiny of Collins' campaign and raised further questions about his family's ties as the Senate race unfolds in Georgia.
What Remains Unresolved: The CNN KFile report is the primary public source for the allegations against Scheer; Collins has said he does not speak for others and pointed to his pro‑Israel voting record but declined to address the specific social‑media claims in the on‑camera exchange.
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