An image spread like an electron inferno Tuesday afternoon of a woman seated behind Supreme Court candidate Brett Kavanaugh making a gesture some interpreted as a symbol of white supremacy.

The woman, Zina Bash, a Washington, D.C. attorney who has worked as a Kavanaugh law clerk, prepped him for the hearings and been photographed frequently with him, was seen making what appeared to be an “OK” gesture. That symbol has been said by several people to be a sign of white supremacy (or, at least, something highly questionable). But Bash’s husband said Tuesday it was absolutely nothing of the sort.

Bash is the wife of U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas John Bash and he stepped in to defend her:

“The attacks today on my wife are repulsive. Everyone tweeting this vicious conspiracy theory should be ashamed of themselves. We weren’t even familiar with the hateful symbol being attributed to her for the random way she rested her hand during a long hearing. Zina is Mexican on her mother’s side and Jewish on her father’s side. She was born in Mexico. Her grandparents were Holocaust survivors. We of course have nothing to do with hate groups, which aim to terrorize and demean other people — never have and never would. Some of the Twitter comments have even referred to our baby daughter. I know that there are good folks on both sides of the political divide. I hope that people will clearly condemn this idiotic and sickening accusation.”

The attacks today on my wife are repulsive. Everyone tweeting this vicious conspiracy theory should be ashamed of themselves. We weren’t even familiar with the hateful symbol being attributed to her for the random way she rested her hand during a long hearing. 1/3 — US Attorney John Bash (@USAttyBash) September 4, 2018

Zina is Mexican on her mother’s side and Jewish on her father’s side. She was born in Mexico. Her grandparents were Holocaust survivors. We of course have nothing to do with hate groups, which aim to terrorize and demean other people — never have and never would. 2/3 — US Attorney John Bash (@USAttyBash) September 4, 2018

Some of the Twitter comments have even referred to our baby daughter. I know that there are good folks on both sides of the political divide. I hope that people will clearly condemn this idiotic and sickening accusation. 3/3 — US Attorney John Bash (@USAttyBash) September 4, 2018

Here’s how the accusatory tweets unfolded throughout the afternoon.

Who is she? What’s up with the white power sign? @MSNBC pic.twitter.com/VUU9QsFdXW — Keith R. Dumas (@rubin_kd) September 4, 2018

What fresh hell is this!!!???

Kavanaugh’s assistant Zina Bash giving the white power sign right behind him during the hearing? This alone should be disqualify!!! pic.twitter.com/ZzXVqgTXhC — Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) September 4, 2018

Like everyone else, I noticed the smirking woman behind Kavanaugh because I found her demeanor inappropriate and saw as everyone did that she rather than McGahn was in that seat as part of a cynical political calculation. But then someone sent me this, and now I’m speechless: pic.twitter.com/qVFr5whVRL — Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) September 4, 2018

2/ I’m fluent in 4chan, the site where this gesture was popularized. I know it’s used by racists sincerely and by trolls ironically (to “own the libs”). None of that explains why Zina Bash didn’t get thrown out of that room for flashing a signal with such grotesque dual valences. — Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) September 4, 2018

It is unmistakably a signal she wanted broadcast, sub rosa, on international TV. Anyone with that sort of callous, even (dare I say) recklessly dangerous disregard for where this country is at right now has *no business* being in that room, let alone in the front row and on-air. — Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) September 4, 2018

Images such as this old one of known white supremacist Richard Spencer making the same symbol have added to the several-years-long debate of whether the symbol is, indeed, one of white supremacy:

In an article from last year, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) disagreed with the legitimacy of the symbol as one of white supremacy, stating back then that suggestions from social media users that the symbol carries racist meaning were just the “latest hoax from members of notorious website 4chan.” Mark Pitcavage, a current ADL researcher had this to say on Twitter: “Out of all the things you should be legitimately concerned about regarding the Senate confirmation hearings in Washington, DC, today for Judge Kavanaugh . . . handshakes and handsigns ought not be among them. Actual serious constitutional issues are at stake.”

Out of all the things you should be legitimately concerned about regarding the Senate confirmation hearings in Washington, DC, today for Judge Kavanaugh & SCOTUS, handshakes and handsigns ought not be among them. Actual serious constitutional issues are at stake. — Mark Pitcavage (@egavactip) September 4, 2018

Pitcavage further explained the meaning of the symbol: “It began as a 4chan troll effort . . . but it has evolved into a symbol used by the alt right (and, occasionally, other white supremacists), the alt lite, and also various MAGA-type Trump supporters. Most still use it to troll (to ‘own the libs’).”

It began as a 4chan troll effort (I’ve written about its origins) but it has evolved into a symbol used by the alt right (and, occasionally, other white supremacists), the alt lite, and also various MAGA-type Trump supporters. Most still use it to troll (to “own the libs”). — Mark Pitcavage (@egavactip) September 4, 2018

Others defended Bash or said that the whole thing was getting blown out of proportion. Author J.D. Vance said, “Zina is a friend of mine, and I’ve never heard her utter a racist remark. She was born in Mexico and is raising a beautiful family in her adopted home. Try not to let your lunacy shade into slander of good people.”

Zina is a friend of mine, and I’ve never heard her utter a racist remark. She was born in Mexico and is raising a beautiful family in her adopted home. Try not to let your lunacy shade into slander of good people. https://t.co/JaUErd8gGh — J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) September 4, 2018

Yes it looks like a white power sign. But could it be some gesture caught wrong by a camera. Not enough data. I know @comey would tell me “well, is she a fascist? Does she date Miller or Publius Anton?” When Posobiec does it you know what it means. Her? I need more data — Louise Mensch (@LouiseMensch) September 4, 2018

That she’s bored and fidgety so she’s picking her nail? https://t.co/AKXXWUFy6e — Soledad O’Brien (@soledadobrien) September 4, 2018

Update: The Seth Abramson tweets that were originally embedded above were deleted from his account. This is what they said:

They were replaced with this:

Hours ago I tweeted that someone who is not a racist used a gesture that has "double valence" as a racist gesture, which it does. And I moved on. The far right doesn't want to talk Kavanaugh, so they're on this now. Not playing their game; I went through fifth grade once already. — Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) September 5, 2018

That, too, was deleted. Abramson has more than 530,000 Twitter followers.

Editor’s note: this story was updated after publication with additional information about Zina Bash.

[Image via screen capture from MSNBC]

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