FLASHBACK: Buttigieg in 2019: Smollett Incident ‘Horrible Attack’

The guilty verdict in the Jussie Smollett case has led to strong criticisms of many Democrats who immediately sided with the disgraced actor, including then-South Bend Democratic mayor and now Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who referred to the incident as a “horrible attack.”

“While the struggle for basic hate crime legislation continues here in Indiana, this horrible attack calls all Americans to stand against hatred and violence in all its forms,” Buttigieg tweeted in 2019.

While the struggle for basic hate crime legislation continues here in Indiana, this horrible attack calls all Americans to stand against hatred and violence in all its forms. https://t.co/AfXJt8DpOf

— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) January 29, 2019

Buttigieg’s words were widely quoted in the media, yet the former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate has yet to provide a retraction or speak out against his previous statement.

Buttigieg’s response was also one of many provided by Democrats immediately following the Smollett incident, despite early evidence pointing toward the alleged crime instead being a staged event.