Idaho Lawmakers Face Fury as Far-Right Agitator Testifies in Brownface
A far-right political provocateur has ignited widespread condemnation after testifying before Idaho's House Business Committee while wearing an offensive brownface costume, with Republican leadership permitting his appearance despite clear violations of legislative decorum.
Offensive Performance During Immigration Hearing
David Pettinger, a 49-year-old known for controversial political stunts, appeared before the committee on Monday, February 23, 2026, to discuss proposed legislation concerning unauthorized workers and the potential implementation of an E-Verify program in the state. His testimony was delivered while wearing brown makeup, sunglasses, a wig, a false beard, and handcuffs dangling from his wrist, creating what critics immediately denounced as a racist caricature.
Acting committee chair Republican Representative Josh Wheeler allowed Pettinger to proceed with his testimony without intervention, despite the obvious breach of legislative standards. Pettinger began speaking in Spanish, stating "El Jefe, amigos" and "No hablo ingles," before Democratic Representative Steve Berch challenged the appropriateness of the costume.
"This is not performance theater," Berch reminded the committee, according to reports from The Idaho Statesman. Wheeler responded by smirking and instructing Pettinger to deliver "straight testimony."Republican Leadership Under Fire
When Pettinger continued speaking in Spanish, Republican Representative Brent Crane requested a break, during which the provocateur was persuaded to switch to English. He then used his platform to attack refugees and immigrants to the United States, concluding his remarks with a reference to the handcuffs he wore as part of his costume.
Democratic Representative Nikson Mathews, chair of the House's Queer Caucus, attempted to rebuke Pettinger for the offensive stunt but was cut off and ordered to resume his seat by Acting Chair Wheeler. "I have to say what happened today is unacceptable," Mathews stated. "That man should have been removed from this room."
The Idaho Statesman noted that Wheeler, who was serving as acting chair because regular committee chairman Republican Representative Jordan Redman was presenting the bill under discussion, had broad authority to bar Pettinger from speaking by invoking House rules on decorum but chose not to exercise this power.
History of Controversial Performances
Pettinger is well-known in Idaho political circles for what The Idaho Statesman described as "racist, misogynist and morally repugnant performances." His previous stunts include dressing as a prom queen wearing a sash bearing the name of a legislator accused of rape, appearing as the Joker character, performing as a "Little Gay King," and dressing as Adolf Hitler outside a Tesla dealership to protest Elon Musk.
Prior to his committee appearance, Pettinger posted a Facebook selfie wearing the same brownface costume topped with a rainbow sombrero, indicating the performance was premeditated rather than spontaneous.
Organizational Condemnation
The ACLU of Idaho issued a strong statement condemning the incident: "No matter your politics, this is racist and absolutely unacceptable behavior from our elected officials. Our elected officials should be leading public forums with civility and respect, not hate."
PODER of Idaho, a social justice organization advocating for the state's Latino and migrant communities, added on Facebook: "Our legislature is supposed to be a place for serious policy discussion, not racist theatrics. This was hate speech, plain and simple. It was a deliberate distraction from the E-Verify bill that many of us showed up to testify on in good faith."
The incident has raised serious questions about legislative standards in Idaho and the willingness of Republican leadership to enforce basic decorum during official proceedings, particularly on sensitive policy matters like immigration reform.
