Dan Osborn Apologizes After Leaked Audio Mocks Trump Voters

Independent Nebraska Senate candidate Dan Osborn apologized after leaked audio recordings surfaced in which he disparaged supporters of Donald Trump and admitted to hiding his true political views to attract Republican voters. In the recordings, Osborn suggested that Trump supporters only want to feel they are on a winning team because their lives probably suck so f***ing bad.

Further leaks revealed Osborn discussing his support for transgender athletes and his desire to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while acknowledging that publicizing these views would hinder his chances of winning. The audio also captured Osborn describing the border wall as a joke and a symbol of racism, contradicting campaign advertisements where he offered to help build it.

During a CNN interview, Osborn stated the audio sure sounds like me but claimed the comments were out of character and that he does not remember the context. He apologized to those offended, stating he feels the pain of disenfranchised voters. The Omaha World-Herald verified the audio, which originated from a campaign event early this summer.

Incumbent Republican Senator Pete Ricketts condemned the remarks, stating that Osborn looks down on the hardest-working people in America. The National Republican Senate Committee added that Nebraskans cannot trust Osborn. Osborn is running as a nonpartisan candidate with the support of the Nebraska Democratic Party, which withdrew its own candidate to unify the challenge against Ricketts.