After a series of questionable comments put him back in the spotlight, Paul LePage unloaded on a state lawmaker when the Maine governor sent him a threatening and profane voicemail that he challenged him with taking public.
The Maine governor is known for having a bombastic style, and he recently drew attention again for offering questionable comments about race while speaking about drug crime. According to Portland Press Herald, Democratic Rep. Drew Gattine was one of several legislators who called out LePage’s remarks as racist, though Gattine denied doing so later on.
A reporter for Press Herald ended up speaking with LePage and asked for his response to those who’ve given him the “racist” label. Lepage demanded who called him that, and he stormed off after the reporter indicated that he previously spoke with Gattine.
“I would like to talk to you about your comments about my being a racist, you c*cksucker,” LePage said in a message to Gattine. “I want to talk to you. I want you to prove that I’m a racist.”
WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE.
LePage later invited the Press Herald to his house, where he continued to rail against the “snot-nosed little guy” and say he would’ve loved challenging Gattine to a duel.
“That’s how angry I am, and I would not put my gun in the air, I guarantee you, I would not be (Alexander) Hamilton. I would point it right between his eyes, because he is a snot-nosed little runt and he has not done a damn thing since he’s been in this Legislature to help move the state forward.”
UPDATE – 12:14 p.m. ET: The governor has released a public statement regarding his explosive comments:
.@Governor_LePage issues statement about voicemail he left for Rep. Gattine: pic.twitter.com/d3rgUXPKnK
— Hannah Lilly (@hannah_lilly) August 26, 2016
[Image via screengrab]
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