RAW STORY
While much of the recent attention surrounding Katrina Pierson has
focused on her bullet necklace, the national spokesperson for Donald
Trump’s presidential campaign has also come under scrutiny for both
improperly claiming unemployment benefits and pushing the “Agenda 21”
conspiracy theory.
According to the National Journal,
Pierson received $11,440 in benefits between 2012 and 2013, when she
did volunteer work for Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) run for office. However,
state rules that anyone receiving unemployment should actively looking
for a paid position while doing so.
The Texas Observer reported last year that in 2011, Pierson led classes for Waco Tea Party members warning them about “Agenda 21,”
a popular conservative conspiracy theory claiming that a nonbinding
plan approved by United Nations officials in 1992 was really a vehicle
for the organization to seize control of the US.
Pierson told the Observer that she led similar discussions
in Arizona, Washington D.C., Kansas and several other states and
considered it her full-time job, arguing that “[when] you realize that
you’ve been lied to your whole life, it’s an eye-opening experience.”
The Journal also noted that Pierson turned against Rep. Trey
Gowdy (R-SC) for supporting Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) bid for the GOP
nomination, just two months after publicly praising him to fellow Tea
Party supporters.
Pierson complained on Twitter that Gowdy “lost all credibility
when he nominated John Boehner for Speaker so he’s perfect for Marco
Rubio.” But on Oct. 26, an email in Pierson’s name went out
seeking help “drafting” Gowdy to become House Speaker, despite the fact
that Gowdy stated he was not interested in the position.
“These outside groups use members’ names, not just his, without their
knowledge and mislead people to think they support or are connected to a
group when they are not,” a spokesperson for Gowdy said after reading
the email.
Pierson joined Trump’s campaign two weeks after that email was sent.
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