Another political scandal has erupted in Virginia’s gubernatorial race, and it’s a doozy. A campaign organizer for Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger was caught on hidden camera laughing and rolling her eyes when discussing the tragic assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. This isn’t just a slip of the tongue; it’s a window into the troubling undercurrents of a campaign already mired in controversy, as New York Post reports.
On September 10, 2024, Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old right-wing activist, was assassinated during an event at Utah Valley University, sending shockwaves through conservative circles. Just six days later, on September 16, 2024, Maame Ama Deegbe, a key organizer for Spanberger’s campaign, was recorded by an undercover reporter posing as a voter, responding to questions about the mood in Virginia following Kirk’s death. What followed was anything but somber reflection.
Instead of offering condolences or even a neutral stance, Deegbe laughed and rolled her eyes, implying Kirk wasn’t worth mourning. She even told the reporter, “I would be sad if you had died. I don’t think I would — I’ll leave it there,” before adding, “Can I say the same for Charlie? I’ll just leave that there” (Human Events). Talk about a cold shoulder—her words suggest a disdain that’s hard to reconcile with basic human decency, no matter one’s politics.
Deegbe didn’t stop at dismissive gestures about Kirk’s death. The footage, shared by Human Events, captures her calling Kirk anything but a “good person” when pressed on the tragedy. For a campaign staffer to so casually brush off a violent act against a political figure is a stark reminder of how polarized our discourse has become.
But the hidden camera didn’t just catch one off-color moment. In separate leaked footage shared by Fox News Digital, Deegbe took aim at her own candidate, Spanberger, calling her a “CIA agent” and expressing disbelief at supporting her run. If a campaign organizer can’t muster enthusiasm for their own boss, what does that say about the candidate’s ability to inspire?
Deegbe’s verbal jabs extended to Republican opponent Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the first woman of color elected statewide in Virginia. With a derogatory remark, Deegbe misrepresented Earle-Sears’ views on history, accusing her of supporting ideas no serious politician would endorse. It’s a cheap shot that distracts from real policy debates and fuels division over dialogue.
The controversies don’t end with Deegbe’s recorded comments. She also described political campaigning as a “really big pyramid scheme” and bragged about being paid “really good money” for her efforts. Such cynicism from within the ranks hardly paints a picture of principled public service.
Following the release of these videos, Deegbe quickly deleted her LinkedIn account, perhaps hoping to scrub her digital footprint. But in the age of the internet, nothing stays buried for long. Her actions only amplify the perception of a campaign scrambling to contain damage.
Spanberger’s team, already under fire for standing by Attorney General candidate Jay Jones despite his troubling statements against a Republican rival, now faces another public relations nightmare. The campaign’s silence on Deegbe’s behavior—having not immediately responded to requests for comment—does little to reassure voters looking for accountability. It’s a missed opportunity to address the issue head-on.
As the November 4, 2024, election looms, Spanberger holds a narrow lead over Earle-Sears in most polls, often by single digits. Yet, with scandals piling up, that margin could easily slip if voters perceive a lack of integrity in her camp. Optics matter, and this latest fiasco doesn’t help.
What’s particularly galling is how these incidents distract from substantive issues facing Virginia. While candidates should be debating economic policies or public safety, we’re instead dissecting hidden-camera gaffes. It’s a disservice to voters who deserve better than political theater.
Deegbe’s flippant attitude toward Kirk’s assassination is more than just poor taste—it’s a symptom of a broader cultural problem where empathy gets sidelined for partisan points. Even if one disagrees with Kirk’s views, acknowledging the tragedy of his death should be a baseline of civility. Anything less erodes what little common ground we have left.
Let’s not pretend the right is immune to its own missteps, but this incident with Spanberger’s organizer feels like a new low. When staffers mock a murder victim or disparage their own candidate, it signals a rot that goes beyond one person’s bad judgment. It’s a wake-up call for campaigns to vet and train their teams better.
Virginia’s gubernatorial race was already a battleground for competing visions of America’s future, pitting Spanberger’s progressive platform against Earle-Sears’ conservative values. But if both sides can’t condemn political violence and personal attacks unequivocally, they risk alienating the very people they claim to represent. Let’s hope this controversy sparks a return to decency over cheap shots.
Ultimately, voters will decide on November 4, 2024, whether Spanberger’s campaign can weather these storms. For now, the hidden-camera revelations about Deegbe leave a bitter taste, reminding us that politics is often less about principle and more about power plays. Here’s to hoping for a course correction—before it’s too late.
