Conservative magazine posts recording of Steve King referring to immigrants as “dirt”

[Francee89]

Conservative policy magazine The Weekly Standard on Saturday posted audio of Iowa Rep. Steve King (R) using derogatory language to apparently refer to Mexican immigrants at a campaign event after King and his campaign denied the comments were made.

In the audio, the Iowa congressman can be heard joking with a constituent about importing "dirt" from Mexico, which appears to be a derogatory reference to immigrants coming from Mexico and other Central American countries through the U.S.'s southern border.

"I guess I'm going to have to go get some dirt from Mexico to grow the next batch," King says in the audio, apparently referring to peppers he had grown in his home garden.

"Trust me, it's already on its way," a female supporter responds, laughing.

"Well, yeah, there's plenty of dirt. And it's coming from the West Coast, too," King joked. "And a lot of other places, besides. This is the most dirt we've ever seen."

After making the remarks, the Standard notes that King reportedly became nervous upon realizing that a reporter may have heard the remarks, and changed the subject.

"This is actually not supposed to start for another six minutes, is it? But, so we’re just kind of chatting here informally here until things get rolling,” King is heard saying immediately following the "dirt" remarks.

The Iowa congressman's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill on the remarks. King and his campaign previously denied the existence of the audio, daring the magazine to post it in a series of Twitter posts.

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4160 ... y-language

[Francee89]

A GOP member in good standing, who has enjoyed committee assignments, praise from Trump, a co-chairmanship on Ted Cruz’s Presidential campaign and who has only been condemned by a handful of Republicans.