Did Mike Collins hire aides with white nationalist ties, as Jon Ossoff claimed?
At their first debate, Jon Ossoff said Mike Collins hired "half the Third Reich" for his office. News reports describe aides, a son-in-law and organizers with white nationalist ties. Collins says he condemns racism and fired people when problems arose.
Claim in dispute
Mike Collins staffed his congressional office with people who hold neo-Nazi or white nationalist views.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
During the October 8 debate in Atlanta, Ossoff answered a question about data centers by telling Collins, "it's not just that you've hired half the Third Reich to staff your congressional office and you have promoted neo-Nazi content online." Later, moderator Rick Folbaum asked Collins about his son-in-law's posts and about staff members accused of racism and antisemitism. Collins said the questions concerned his family, said he had condemned racism and antisemitism, and said that when problems arose, "I fired them." Ossoff replied that Collins's office had intervened at the Justice Department for a Holocaust denier. Debate transcript (opens in a new tab), C-SPAN video (opens in a new tab)
Ossoff's reference to a Holocaust denier concerns Kip Talley. Slate reported in May 2026 that Talley, then Collins's deputy chief of staff, told a group chat that included white nationalists Nick Fuentes and Richard Spencer in December 2025 that he would "try and use the levers of the legislative branch" to check on the detention of Holocaust denier Charles Johnson. Talley told Slate he acted in a personal capacity and not at Collins's direction. In July, Collins named his third chief of staff in a year after Talley and Brandon Phillips left. Slate (opens in a new tab), The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (opens in a new tab)
In August, The Washington Post reported that Preston Parra, a former intern in Collins's office who later did fundraising work for his leadership PAC, had posted an image appearing to show him in a Ku Klux Klan robe, as well as a swastika. Parra told the Post he considered himself a provocateur, not a white supremacist. A Collins spokesperson said Parra had no affiliation with Collins's office or campaign and condemned the posts. Collins later told reporters that the former staffers' views were abhorrent and that their activity came after they had left his team; Jewish Insider noted that Talley's group chat messages were sent while he worked for Collins. The Washington Sun (opens in a new tab), Jewish Insider (opens in a new tab)
Two other strands concern people outside the congressional office. CNN reported in July that Collins's son-in-law, David Alan Scheer II, who is registered to vote at a Collins-owned property, has promoted White nationalist ideology and antisemitic conspiracy theories online. Asked about him at a July 30 press conference, Collins said the matter had been "fully addressed" and ended the event. The Daily Beast reported on October 7 that two county organizers in Collins's campaign had held leadership roles in American Patriots USA, a group founded by former Ku Klux Klan leader Chester Doles that Collins called a hate organization in 2019. The campaign said it did not know of their past associations. CNN (opens in a new tab), CNN press conference report (opens in a new tab), The Daily Beast (opens in a new tab), FOX 5 Atlanta (opens in a new tab)
Ossoff did not say on stage which posts he meant by neo-Nazi content. Earlier coverage of Collins's own posts includes a March 2024 episode in which he replied "Never was a second thought" to a post by an account called Garbage Human that was widely read as pointing out that a Washington Post reporter is Jewish. Collins said critics were seeing something that was not there and did not remove the reply despite calls to do so. Jewish Insider (opens in a new tab)
This case asks whether Collins's hiring and associations match Ossoff's description. The reporting documents what these individuals posted or did; it does not show that Collins shares their views, and Collins says he condemns racism and antisemitism. The phrase "half the Third Reich" is Ossoff's characterization. Collins's intern payments and his remarks on compensation for January 6 defendants are covered in separate cases.
People in this case
Mike CollinsDirectly involved
Jon OssoffDirectly involved
Timeline
8 timeline entries on this page. Dates: March 3, 2024 to October 8, 2026
March 2024
1 event
Collins replies to a post widely read as singling out a reporter for being Jewish
Incident
Collins replied "Never was a second thought" to a post by an account called Garbage Human about Washington Post reporter Maura Judkis, a post widely read as pointing out that she is Jewish. Collins later said critics were seeing something that was not there and did not remove the reply.
[01]Rep. Mike Collins doubles down on post supporting antisemitic, racist social media account
Jewish Insider reports that Collins replied Never was a second thought to a post by an account called Garbage Human about a Washington Post reporter, a post widely read as pointing out that the reporter is Jewish. Collins said critics were seeing something that was not there and kept the reply up.
816 days between recorded events
May 2026
1 event
Slate reports a Collins aide's group chat effort for a jailed Holocaust denier
Source release
Slate reported that Kip Talley, Collins's chief of staff, told a group chat that included white nationalists Nick Fuentes and Richard Spencer in December 2025, while he was deputy chief of staff, that he would use his position to check on the detention of Holocaust denier Charles Johnson. Talley said he acted in a personal capacity and not at Collins's direction.
[02]Why Was the Chief of Staff for a Leading Republican Senate Candidate on a Group Chat With Famous White Nationalists?
Slate reports that Kip Talley, then Collins's deputy chief of staff and later his chief of staff, told a group chat that included white nationalists Nick Fuentes and Richard Spencer that he would use his position to check on the detention of Holocaust denier Charles Johnson. Talley told Slate he acted in a personal capacity and not at Collins's direction.
Why Was the Chief of Staff for a Leading Republican Senate Candidate on a Group Chat With Famous White Nationalists?Group chat messages from December 2025 and Talley's statement to Slate
42 days between recorded events
July 2026
3 events
Collins names his third chief of staff in a year
Collins named Andrew Eisenberger to lead his congressional office after the departures of two predecessors, Brandon Phillips and Kip Talley, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
[03]Another staff shake-up for Mike Collins as top aide departs amid scrutiny
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Collins named Andrew Eisenberger as his third chief of staff in a year, after the departures of Brandon Phillips and Kip Talley.
CNN reports Collins's son-in-law promotes white nationalist content
Source release
CNN's KFile reported that David Alan Scheer II, who is married to Collins's daughter and is registered to vote at a Collins-owned property, has promoted White nationalist ideology, antisemitic conspiracy theories and Nazi imagery to more than 1.5 million followers. Collins's campaign responded with a statement about his record on Israel.
[04]GOP Senate candidate has close ties to White nationalist influencer, his son-in-law
CNN's KFile reports that David Alan Scheer II, who is married to Collins's daughter and is registered to vote at a Collins-owned property, has promoted White nationalist ideology and antisemitic conspiracy theories on his social media accounts. Collins's campaign answered with a statement about his support for Israel.
Collins ends a press conference after questions about his son-in-law
Incident
At Monroe County Hospital, Collins declined repeated questions about his son-in-law, said the matter had been "fully addressed" and ended the press conference, CNN reported.
[05]GOP Senate nominee ends press conference after questions on ties to White nationalist influencer
CNN report, republished by KVIA, on a July 30 press conference at Monroe County Hospital where Collins declined questions about his son-in-law and ended the event.
28 days between recorded events
August 2026
1 event
Report details a former Collins intern's Klan and Nazi imagery
Source release
The Washington Post reported that Preston Parra, a former intern in Collins's office and later a fundraising contractor for his leadership PAC, had posted an image appearing to show him in a Ku Klux Klan robe, as well as a swastika. The Collins campaign condemned the posts and said Parra had no affiliation with Collins's office or campaign. Ossoff called the hiring disqualifying.
[06]Jon Ossoff Assails GOP Rival After Report Reveals Former Staffer's Nazi Posts
The Washington Sun reports on a Washington Post account of social media posts by Preston Parra, a former intern in Collins's office who later did fundraising work for his leadership PAC, including an image of Parra in a Ku Klux Klan robe and a swastika. A Collins spokesperson says Parra has no affiliation with Collins's office or campaign and condemns the posts. Ossoff calls the hiring disqualifying.
[07]Ex-staffer on Collins Senate campaign posed in KKK uniform, posted swastika online
Atlanta News First reports on the posts by a former Collins staffer and quotes the Collins campaign's statement condemning them, along with Ossoff's response.
41 days between recorded events
October 2026
2 events
Report says two Collins campaign organizers held roles in a group founded by a former Klan leader
Source release
The Daily Beast reported that county convoy captains Joshua Mote and Michael Boggus had held leadership roles in American Patriots USA, a group founded by former Ku Klux Klan leader Chester Doles. The Collins campaign said their past associations were not known to it. Mote said he left the group after learning who Doles was.
[08]Trump Candidate Mike Collins' 'Convoy Captains' Tied to Group Founded by Ex-KKK Leader
The Daily Beast reports that two county organizers in Collins's Senate campaign, Joshua Mote and Michael Boggus, held leadership roles in American Patriots USA, a group founded by former Ku Klux Klan leader Chester Doles. Mote says he left the group when he learned who Doles was. The report notes that Collins called the group a hate organization in 2019.
[09]Report: Collins campaign leaders tied to group founded by former KKK leader
FOX 5 Atlanta summarizes the Daily Beast report and quotes the Collins campaign's statement that the organizers' past associations were not known to the campaign, along with Ossoff's response.
Report: Collins campaign leaders tied to group founded by former KKK leaderCollins campaign statement and Ossoff statementOssoff tells Collins he hired "half the Third Reich" at their first debate
Claim
At the first general-election debate, Ossoff told Collins he had hired half the Third Reich to staff his congressional office and had promoted neo-Nazi content online. Asked about his son-in-law and staff, Collins said he had condemned racism and antisemitism and had fired people when problems arose.
[10]Atlanta News First transcript of the October 8 Georgia Senate debate, data center exchange
Published transcript of the debate. Answering a question about data centers, Ossoff tells Collins he hired half the Third Reich to staff his congressional office and promoted neo-Nazi content online, then turns to data center subsidies in the budget bill Collins voted for.
Atlanta News First transcript of the October 8 Georgia Senate debate, data center exchangeData center question, Ossoff's 60-second answer, passage beginning: And that's the problem, Mike[11]Atlanta News First transcript of the October 8 Georgia Senate debate, son-in-law question
Published transcript of the debate. Moderator Rick Folbaum asks Collins about his son-in-law's posts and about staff members accused of racism and antisemitism. Collins says the question concerns his family, says he has condemned racism and antisemitism, and says that when he had things happen, he fired them. Ossoff replies that Collins amplified neo-Nazi propaganda and that his office intervened for a Holocaust denier.
Atlanta News First transcript of the October 8 Georgia Senate debate, son-in-law questionModerator's question to Collins about his son-in-law and staff, Collins's 60-second answer and Ossoff's 30-second reply[12]Georgia U.S. Senate Debate, C-SPAN video, October 8, 2026
C-SPAN recording of the first general-election debate between Sen. Jon Ossoff and Rep. Mike Collins in Atlanta, hosted by Atlanta News First and Gray Media and moderated by Rick Folbaum. It includes Ossoff's remark about Collins's congressional staff and the moderator's question about Collins's son-in-law.
Georgia U.S. Senate Debate, C-SPAN video, October 8, 2026Full debate recording (50 minutes), Atlanta, October 8, 2026[13]Jon Ossoff Accuses Mike Collins of Having 'Hired Half the Third Reich'
The Washington Sun's debate report, which describes the staff and family controversies Ossoff raised and Collins's answer on stage.
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
Mike Collins staffed his congressional office with people who hold neo-Nazi or white nationalist views.
Sources (4)
- Atlanta News First transcript of the October 8 Georgia Senate debate, data center exchangeData center question, Ossoff's 60-second answer, passage beginning: And that's the problem, Mike
- Why Was the Chief of Staff for a Leading Republican Senate Candidate on a Group Chat With Famous White Nationalists?Group chat messages from December 2025 and Talley's statement to Slate
Disputed claim
Mike Collins has promoted neo-Nazi content online.
Sources (3)
- Atlanta News First transcript of the October 8 Georgia Senate debate, data center exchangeData center question, Ossoff's 60-second answer, passage beginning: And that's the problem, Mike
- Atlanta News First transcript of the October 8 Georgia Senate debate, son-in-law questionModerator's question to Collins about his son-in-law and staff, Collins's 60-second answer and Ossoff's 30-second reply
Disputed claim
Collins fired the people around him whose conduct drew scrutiny once problems came to light.
Sources (4)
- Atlanta News First transcript of the October 8 Georgia Senate debate, son-in-law questionModerator's question to Collins about his son-in-law and staff, Collins's 60-second answer and Ossoff's 30-second reply
- Rep. Mike Collins calls former staffers' antisemitic views 'abhorrent,' offers no vetting changesCollins's remarks to reporters at the Republican Jewish Coalition leadership summit in Las Vegas
Disputed claim
The former staffers' objectionable views and activity came after they had left Collins's team.
Sources (2)
- Rep. Mike Collins calls former staffers' antisemitic views 'abhorrent,' offers no vetting changesCollins's remarks to reporters at the Republican Jewish Coalition leadership summit in Las Vegas
- Why Was the Chief of Staff for a Leading Republican Senate Candidate on a Group Chat With Famous White Nationalists?Group chat messages from December 2025 and Talley's statement to Slate
Response record
Responses
Latest recorded positions: 8. Dates: August 30, 2026 to October 12, 2026
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
5 responses on this page
Jon OssoffU.S. senator from Georgia and Democratic candidate for reelection, speaking at the debateDirectly involved"Mike, it’s not just that you’ve hired half the Third Reich to staff your congressional office and you have promoted neo-Nazi content online. It’s that you’re robbing your constituents to subsidize your donors. ... Imagine running for the U.S. Senate while neo-Nazi propaganda is disseminated to an audience of millions from your home. That’s Mike Collins. And it’s not just those around him. Mike Collins himself has amplified neo-Nazi propaganda online. Mike Collins’ office intervened at the Department of Justice on behalf of a Holocaust denier while his office was in cahoots with some of the nation’s most notorious white supremacists. Mike Collins is a bigot, and it’s disqualifying for a candidate for the U.S. Senate."
CondemnedResponding to: Mike Collins staffed his congressional office with people who hold neo-Nazi or white nationalist views.
Read more
At the debate, Ossoff told Collins he had staffed his congressional office with half the Third Reich and had promoted neo-Nazi content online. In a later reply, he said Collins had amplified neo-Nazi propaganda, that his office had intervened at the Justice Department for a Holocaust denier, and that Collins is a bigot unfit for the Senate.
Before the statement
The first passage came in Ossoff's answer to a question about data centers, after Collins backed local control and criticized Ossoff donor Reid Hoffman. The second came in Ossoff's 30-second reply after the moderator asked Collins about his son-in-law's posts and staff members accused of racism and antisemitism, and Collins answered.
After the statement
After the first passage, Ossoff asked Collins whether he would vote to repeal the data center tax provision, and Collins answered on data centers and Hoffman.
Atlanta News First transcript of the October 8 Georgia Senate debate, data center exchangeData center question, Ossoff's 60-second answer, passage beginning: And that's the problem, MikeAtlanta News First transcript of the October 8 Georgia Senate debate, son-in-law questionModerator's question to Collins about his son-in-law and staff, Collins's 60-second answer and Ossoff's 30-second replyWhy this label?
Relative to Collins's staffing and associations, Ossoff expressly condemns them: he describes Collins's office staff as half the Third Reich, accuses Collins of promoting neo-Nazi content and says these ties disqualify him. This is an accusation about the conduct itself, not a dispute over how others have described it.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Mike CollinsU.S. representative from Georgia and Republican Senate nominee, speaking at the debateDirectly involved"You know, Rick, that’s my family. That’s the craziness that Jon Ossoff has been spewing out there. I actually had a crazy person get put in jail this weekend, because he not only wanted to kill my son-in-law, but he wanted to kill me. And you’re exactly right. I’ve got a daughter and grandkids there, as well as my wife. I’ve condemned racism, anti-Semitism, hate. I don’t care where the source is. And I tell him that, too. It’s wrong. We have no place in this world for that. But I’ve never heard him say a word about his DSA pick up there, Abdul El Saeed, Hassan Piker. How about Reid Hoffman? None of those. He doesn’t denounce anybody or anything or condemn them, because he’s part of them. But yet he wants to take that and spew that on me. That’s not me. When I had things happen, I’m a businessman. I fired them. I got rid of them. Don’t need them."
Defended or excusedResponding to: Collins fired the people around him whose conduct drew scrutiny once problems came to light.
Read more
Asked about his son-in-law's posts and staff members accused of racism and antisemitism, Collins said "that's my family," called Ossoff's attacks craziness, said he has condemned racism, antisemitism and hate, criticized Ossoff's own allies, and said that when he "had things happen," he fired them.
Before the statement
Moderator Rick Folbaum told Collins that many people felt he had not adequately addressed his son-in-law's posts or accusations of racism and antisemitism against several staff members. He asked what Collins had said to his daughter and son-in-law and whether he would denounce white supremacy.
After the statement
Ossoff replied that neo-Nazi propaganda was being spread from Collins's home, that Collins had amplified neo-Nazi propaganda online and that his office had intervened at the Justice Department for a Holocaust denier.
Atlanta News First transcript of the October 8 Georgia Senate debate, son-in-law questionModerator's question to Collins about his son-in-law and staff, Collins's 60-second answer and Ossoff's 30-second replyWhy this label?
Relative to Collins's staffing and associations as Ossoff described them, Collins rejects the charge as craziness and defends his handling of the people around him, saying he fired them. He condemns racism and antisemitism in general but does not criticize his own hiring or associations, so the response defends the conduct at issue rather than condemning it.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
- Mike CollinsMike Collins U.S. Senate campaign, through spokesperson Meyer SiegfriedDirectly involved
"The past associations of these individuals was not known to the campaign, and these views do not represent Mike Collins or the more than 800 Convoy Captains around the state that want leaders who will deliver a prosperous, safer, and more affordable Georgia."
Challenged the characterizationCase context: Did Mike Collins hire aides with white nationalist ties, as Jon Ossoff claimed?
Read more
Responding to a report that two county convoy captains had held leadership roles in American Patriots USA, a group founded by a former Ku Klux Klan leader, the Collins campaign said it had not known of their past associations and that their views do not represent Collins.
Before the statement
The Daily Beast reported that Joshua Mote and Michael Boggus, county convoy captains for the Collins campaign, had held leadership roles in American Patriots USA, a group founded by former Ku Klux Klan leader Chester Doles.
After the statement
Mote told reporters he had stepped away from the convoy captain role in April and had left American Patriots USA when he learned who Doles was. Ossoff said Collins is surrounded at work, at home and at his campaign by white nationalists, neo-Nazis and Klan associates.
Report: Collins campaign leaders tied to group founded by former KKK leaderCollins campaign statement and Ossoff statementWhy this label?
Relative to Collins's associations as Ossoff characterized them, the campaign says the organizers' past associations were not known to it and that their views do not represent Collins. It distances Collins from the organizers' views rather than defending them, disputing that the appointments reflect his own views, so we used challenges the characterization.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
- Jon OssoffU.S. senator from Georgia and Democratic candidate for reelection, in a campaign statementDirectly involved
"Another week, another scandal for Mike Collins, who is surrounded at work, at home, and now at his campaign by white nationalists, neo-Nazis, and Klan associates"
CondemnedResponding to: Mike Collins staffed his congressional office with people who hold neo-Nazi or white nationalist views.
Read more
Ossoff released a statement criticizing Collins over the campaign appointments, saying Collins is surrounded at work, at home and now at his campaign by white nationalists, neo-Nazis and Klan associates.
Before the statement
The Daily Beast reported that two Collins campaign convoy captains, Joshua Mote and Michael Boggus, had held leadership roles in American Patriots USA, a group founded by former Ku Klux Klan leader Chester Doles. Ossoff's statement came the day before the first debate.
After the statement
The Collins campaign said the organizers' past associations were not known to it and that their views do not represent Collins.
Report: Collins campaign leaders tied to group founded by former KKK leaderCollins campaign statement and Ossoff statementWhy this label?
Relative to Collins's staffing and associations, Ossoff expressly condemns them, describing white nationalist, neo-Nazi and Klan ties in Collins's office, family and campaign.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
- Mike CollinsU.S. representative from Georgia and Republican Senate nominee, speaking to reporters at the Republican Jewish Coalition leadership summit in Las VegasDirectly involved
"Those staffers — those views are abhorrent, and they don’t represent my values ... this was after they were on my team and gone ... I can’t see into the future, but regardless I still don’t agree with them, period ... We can vet all day long, but what happens when they leave and they go out into the future — that’s a different question. But I certainly don’t want people around me like that."
Challenged the characterizationResponding to: The former staffers' objectionable views and activity came after they had left Collins's team.
Read more
Speaking to reporters at the Republican Jewish Coalition leadership summit, Collins called his former staffers' views abhorrent and contrary to his values, said their activity came after they had left his team, and said vetting cannot predict what staff do after they leave.
Before the statement
Collins spoke to reporters about his former staffers at the summit. Jewish Insider pressed him on whether he would change how his office vets staff.
After the statement
Jewish Insider noted that Kip Talley's group chat messages were sent while he still worked for Collins. Collins went on to say young people need education and opportunity to resist radicalization and contrasted his record on Israel with Ossoff's.
Rep. Mike Collins calls former staffers' antisemitic views 'abhorrent,' offers no vetting changesCollins's remarks to reporters at the Republican Jewish Coalition leadership summit in Las VegasWhy this label?
Relative to Collins's staffing and associations as Ossoff characterized them, Collins condemns his former staffers' views as abhorrent but disputes that he hired people who held them, saying their activity came after they had left his team. He disputes how his hiring is described rather than defending the views, so we used challenges the characterization.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(18)
Original video
Georgia U.S. Senate Debate, C-SPAN video, October 8, 2026
Relevant passage: Full debate recording (50 minutes), Atlanta, October 8, 2026
About this source
C-SPAN recording of the first general-election debate between Sen. Jon Ossoff and Rep. Mike Collins in Atlanta, hosted by Atlanta News First and Gray Media and moderated by Rick Folbaum. It includes Ossoff's remark about Collins's congressional staff and the moderator's question about Collins's son-in-law.
- Author
- C-SPAN
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Jon Ossoff Accuses Mike Collins of Having 'Hired Half the Third Reich'
Relevant passage: Full report
About this source
The Washington Sun's debate report, which describes the staff and family controversies Ossoff raised and Collins's answer on stage.
- Author
- Hunter Riggall, The Washington Sun
- Published
- Accessed
Analysis
Dominance Politics, Elite Gatekeeping and Jon Ossoff
Relevant passage: Second paragraph
About this source
Editors' Blog post in which Talking Points Memo founder Josh Marshall responds to David Brooks's criticism of Ossoff's debate remark.
- Author
- Josh Marshall, Talking Points Memo
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Ron Filipkowski Bluesky post on Ossoff's Third Reich remark
Relevant passage: Post
About this source
Post by MeidasTouch News editor-in-chief Ron Filipkowski on the morning after the debate.
- Author
- Ron Filipkowski
- Published
- Accessed
Original video
Brooks and Capehart on the fight for Senate control in battleground states
Relevant passage: Transcript, Brooks's first answer, passage beginning: Some, I agree with Jonathan
About this source
PBS News Hour segment and transcript in which David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart discuss the October 8 Senate debates in Georgia, Michigan and Maine, including Ossoff's remark about Collins's staff.
- Author
- PBS News Hour; Amna Nawaz with David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Rep. Mike Collins doubles down on post supporting antisemitic, racist social media account
Relevant passage: Full report
About this source
Jewish Insider reports that Collins replied Never was a second thought to a post by an account called Garbage Human about a Washington Post reporter, a post widely read as pointing out that the reporter is Jewish. Collins said critics were seeing something that was not there and kept the reply up.
- Author
- Marc Rod, Jewish Insider
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Report: Collins campaign leaders tied to group founded by former KKK leader
Relevant passage: Collins campaign statement and Ossoff statement
About this source
FOX 5 Atlanta summarizes the Daily Beast report and quotes the Collins campaign's statement that the organizers' past associations were not known to the campaign, along with Ossoff's response.
- Author
- Travis Maurer, FOX 5 Atlanta
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Trump Candidate Mike Collins' 'Convoy Captains' Tied to Group Founded by Ex-KKK Leader
Relevant passage: Full report
About this source
The Daily Beast reports that two county organizers in Collins's Senate campaign, Joshua Mote and Michael Boggus, held leadership roles in American Patriots USA, a group founded by former Ku Klux Klan leader Chester Doles. Mote says he left the group when he learned who Doles was. The report notes that Collins called the group a hate organization in 2019.
- Author
- Laura Esposito, The Daily Beast
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Senate Majority Leader Thune defends Mike Collins against extremist allegations
Relevant passage: Thune's remarks to reporters at the Cross Creek Cafe in Atlanta
About this source
Capitol Beat report, republished by Rough Draft Atlanta, on Senate Majority Leader John Thune's September 25 appearance with Collins in Atlanta, where Thune dismissed Democrats' attacks over Collins's reported connections to white supremacists.
- Author
- Ty Tagami, Capitol Beat, published by Rough Draft Atlanta
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Rep. Mike Collins calls former staffers' antisemitic views 'abhorrent,' offers no vetting changes
Relevant passage: Collins's remarks to reporters at the Republican Jewish Coalition leadership summit in Las Vegas
About this source
Jewish Insider reports Collins's comments to reporters about his former staffers, including his statement that their activity came after they left his team. The report notes that Talley's group chat activity took place while he worked for Collins.
- Author
- Marc Rod, Jewish Insider
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Ex-staffer on Collins Senate campaign posed in KKK uniform, posted swastika online
Relevant passage: Full report
About this source
Atlanta News First reports on the posts by a former Collins staffer and quotes the Collins campaign's statement condemning them, along with Ossoff's response.
- Author
- Atlanta News First
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Jon Ossoff Assails GOP Rival After Report Reveals Former Staffer's Nazi Posts
Relevant passage: Full report
About this source
The Washington Sun reports on a Washington Post account of social media posts by Preston Parra, a former intern in Collins's office who later did fundraising work for his leadership PAC, including an image of Parra in a Ku Klux Klan robe and a swastika. A Collins spokesperson says Parra has no affiliation with Collins's office or campaign and condemns the posts. Ossoff calls the hiring disqualifying.
- Author
- Jackie Llanos, The Washington Sun
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
GOP Senate nominee ends press conference after questions on ties to White nationalist influencer
Relevant passage: Full report
About this source
CNN report, republished by KVIA, on a July 30 press conference at Monroe County Hospital where Collins declined questions about his son-in-law and ended the event.
- Author
- Andrew Kaczynski and Em Steck, CNN, published by KVIA
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
GOP Senate candidate has close ties to White nationalist influencer, his son-in-law
Relevant passage: Full report
About this source
CNN's KFile reports that David Alan Scheer II, who is married to Collins's daughter and is registered to vote at a Collins-owned property, has promoted White nationalist ideology and antisemitic conspiracy theories on his social media accounts. Collins's campaign answered with a statement about his support for Israel.
- Author
- Andrew Kaczynski and Em Steck, CNN
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Another staff shake-up for Mike Collins as top aide departs amid scrutiny
Relevant passage: Opening paragraphs
About this source
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Collins named Andrew Eisenberger as his third chief of staff in a year, after the departures of Brandon Phillips and Kip Talley.
- Author
- Greg Bluestein, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Why Was the Chief of Staff for a Leading Republican Senate Candidate on a Group Chat With Famous White Nationalists?
Relevant passage: Group chat messages from December 2025 and Talley's statement to Slate
About this source
Slate reports that Kip Talley, then Collins's deputy chief of staff and later his chief of staff, told a group chat that included white nationalists Nick Fuentes and Richard Spencer that he would use his position to check on the detention of Holocaust denier Charles Johnson. Talley told Slate he acted in a personal capacity and not at Collins's direction.
- Author
- Ben Jacobs, Slate
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
Atlanta News First transcript of the October 8 Georgia Senate debate, son-in-law question
Relevant passage: Moderator's question to Collins about his son-in-law and staff, Collins's 60-second answer and Ossoff's 30-second reply
About this source
Published transcript of the debate. Moderator Rick Folbaum asks Collins about his son-in-law's posts and about staff members accused of racism and antisemitism. Collins says the question concerns his family, says he has condemned racism and antisemitism, and says that when he had things happen, he fired them. Ossoff replies that Collins amplified neo-Nazi propaganda and that his office intervened for a Holocaust denier.
- Author
- Atlanta News First
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
Atlanta News First transcript of the October 8 Georgia Senate debate, data center exchange
Relevant passage: Data center question, Ossoff's 60-second answer, passage beginning: And that's the problem, Mike
About this source
Published transcript of the debate. Answering a question about data centers, Ossoff tells Collins he hired half the Third Reich to staff his congressional office and promoted neo-Nazi content online, then turns to data center subsidies in the budget bill Collins voted for.
- Author
- Atlanta News First
- Published
- Accessed
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- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Did Mike Collins hire aides with white nationalist ties, as Jon Ossoff claimed?
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/mike-collins-aides-white-nationalist-ties-ossoff-third-reich
The Dispute Index. "Did Mike Collins hire aides with white nationalist ties, as Jon Ossoff claimed?". First published: 2026-10-13. Last updated: 2026-10-13. https://disputeindex.com/cases/mike-collins-aides-white-nationalist-ties-ossoff-third-reich