Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, a Democrat, has condemned as “disgraceful and disqualifying” a report that a former staffer for his Republican challenger Mike Collins shared images online of a swastika and of himself in Ku Klux Klan robes. Ossoff called the report “stunning” and said it “should shock the conscience of every Georgian.”
The report, published by the Washington Post, revealed that Preston Parra, who interned for Collins in 2024 and later worked as a contractor for his leadership PAC, posted the images in June and July. Ossoff stated the report “confirmed yet more extensive ties between Congressman Mike Collins and white nationalism, and Congressman Mike Collins and neo-Nazi ideology.” He demanded that Collins “hold a press conference this afternoon” and release all communications between his office and white supremacists.
Collins Campaign Responds to Allegations
Meyer Siegfried, a spokesperson for Collins, said Parra has no affiliation with Collins’ office or campaign. “The posts are vile, completely unhinged, and Mike Collins unequivocally condemns them,” Siegfried said. He also attempted to highlight other cases of extremism, claiming there had been a “rise in antisemitism and hate among younger Americans” and “Jon Ossoff’s allies,” describing this as “equally abhorrent.”
Parra, 24, described himself as a “twink fascist” on his X account. The posts, which remain online, include repeated casual use of the N-word, quotes of Nazi song lyrics, and the phrase “White Power.” When reached for comment, Parra responded with a racial slur. He told the Post that many of his posts, including the KKK image he said he made using Grok AI, were “satirical.” He denied being a white supremacist but added, “I do think that the white race contributes more to the world.” Parra claimed Collins was unaware of his personal X account because it was private.
Broader Scandal Surrounds Collins Campaign
This incident is the latest in a series of controversies for Collins. Last month, CNN revealed that Collins’s son-in-law, David Alan Scheer II, is a white nationalist and social media influencer with a history of sharing antisemitic material and Nazi imagery. Scheer, who is registered to vote at a Collins-owned property in Georgia, has appeared in campaign photos and attended Collins’s victory party after the Republican primary in June.
Collins, a trucking executive, has represented Georgia’s 10th congressional district since 2023. He has faced scrutiny over associations with far-right figures, incendiary social media activity, and accusations of antisemitism, which he has denied. Having won the Republican nomination, Collins now faces Ossoff in November’s midterm elections, a race critical to Senate control.
Georgia Republicans Express Concern
Several Georgia Republicans told the Post they are increasingly worried about Collins’s pattern of troubling associations. Debbie Dooley, a prominent conservative activist and original Tea Party founder who backed Collins’s rival in the primary, said, “In the south, we have a saying: You lay down with dogs, you get up with fleas. Well, Mike Collins has got a lot of fleas on him.”
The controversy continues to cast a shadow over Collins’s campaign as the election approaches.
