Video of Kansas legislative hearing edited to remove profane comments about journalist
An official recording of a Kansas legislative hearing about COVID-19 vaccine mandates held Saturday has been edited to remove a profanity-laced tirade about a journalist.
For roughly 30 seconds, Justin Spiehs, who has been a vocal opponent of mask orders, used a string of profanities, including statements about Sherman Smith, the editor in chief of the Kansas Reflector. The comments came during public testimony heard by the Special Committee on Government Overreach and the Impact of COVID-19 Mandates.
But audio of Spiehs comments about Smith had been scrubbed from the Legislature’s video of the event by Monday.
“We’re up against a bunch of weaklings, people who are soft … and Sherman Smith ...” Spiehs says in the video immediately before the audio is muted.
The video then shows Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican and chair of the committee, speaking while the audio remains muted. A wide shot shows Spiehs backing away from the lectern as a police officer walks toward him.
It’s unclear who ordered the audio’s removal. Erickson didn’t answer a call and her voicemail was full.
J.G. Scott, director of the Kansas Legislative Research Department, in an email provided only a vague explanation of why the audio was edited and appeared to suggest the decision may be reversed.
“The footage was edited in an abundance of caution,” Scott said. “We now have the professionals working, after the Saturday meeting, to provide the legal perspective regarding (the) situation and a decision how to proceed will be made shortly.”
Scott didn’t immediately respond to a follow-up message asking who made the call to remove the audio.
Smith said he doesn’t have any emotional investment in what Spiehs thinks of him. “But as a journalist, I think it’s important to preserve the public record,” he said.
The Reflector reported that Spiehs had previously emailed Smith seeking coverage of complaints with Lawrence public school officials, which Smith declined to provide.
Spiehs’ remarks came toward the end of several hours of testimony during a rare Saturday hearing at the Capitol. The hearing included numerous instances of misinformation and false statements about the COVID-19 vaccines, though the vaccines have proven extraordinarily safe and serious side effects have been extremely rare.
This story was originally published November 1, 2021 at 5:30 PM.
