Report: Bevin called California Democrat a 'dirtbag' at Koch retreat

Thomas Novelly | Courier Journal

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Gov. Matt Bevin tore into California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and called him a "dirtbag" and an "embarrassment to public office" at a retreat this past weekend hosted by the Koch brothers, NBC News reports.

Bevin, who was a featured speaker at a seminar, was encouraging the group of wealthy and secretive GOP donors to give to Newsom's opponent, John Cox, in California's gubernatorial race, NBC News reports.

Reporters who attended the three-day retreat at a luxury resort in Colorado Springs were allowed to attend certain events if they did not "identify the donors without their consent," according to the Wall Street Journal. Photos and videos were also prohibited, and guests were asked to give up their cell phones, too.

But one person, who requested to remain anonymous, told NBC News about Bevin's remarks.

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"There's a whole lot of Democrats, liberals included, who don't think very highly of Newsom, who find him to be the squirrelly little weasel that he is," Bevin is reported to have said. "The guy's a dirtbag."

About 500 guests attended the retreat in Colorado and each had committed to donating at least $100,000 annually to Koch initiatives.

The Koch network, founded by billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, is a series of nonprofit organizations that aim to add libertarian and Republican influence to public policy, politics and education.

Newsom, a Democrat who has served as lieutenant governor since 2011, has had several scandals, including an affair with his campaign manager's wife and a self-admitted drinking problem, according to CBS News.

"He’s an embarrassment to public office," Bevin is reported to have said, according to NBC News. "His personal life, his professional life has a wake of disaster behind it, and the idea that he’s somebody that anybody would believe is worthy of carrying the torch of the sixth-largest economy in (the world) is an insult to everybody who does live in California and everybody who lives in America."

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A spokeswoman for Bevin did not immediately return a request for comment.

Bevin is no stranger to the Koch brothers.

On Jan. 28, when Bevin declared a "day of prayer" for a shooting at Marshall County High School in Kentucky, he was in California at a Koch event where he praised donors for being “modern-day John Hancocks.” In August 2016, Bevin was in Colorado once again as a featured speaker at the Koch retreat.

Thomas Novelly: tnovelly@courierjournal.com, 502-582-4465. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/tomn.