Statement from James Byrd on Rep. Harriet Hageman’s Charlottesville Conspiracy Theories

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Madison Shamley | shamleymadison@gmail.com

May 4, 2026

Statement from

James Byrd on Rep. Harriet Hageman's Charlottesville Conspiracy Theories

CHEYENNE, WY — James Byrd, candidate for U.S. Senate and former State Representative, issued the following statement today in response to remarks made by Representative Harriet Hageman during a national podcast appearance over the weekend:

"I am writing today to state my firm opposition to the baseless and dangerous claims made by Representative Harriet Hageman during her interview on a national podcast this past weekend. To suggest that the Southern Poverty Law Center—an organization dedicated to civil rights—somehow 'funded and organized' the tragic 'Unite the Right' rally in 2017 is not just a lie; it is an insult to the memory of those who suffered there.

We know the facts. That rally was organized by white supremacists and neo-Nazis. Attempting to rewrite history to fit a national political narrative is beneath the office Rep. Hageman holds."

"Furthermore, I would like to offer a simple geographical correction for the Congresswoman: Charlottesville is in Virginia—it is not in Wyoming. It is telling that Rep. Hageman chose to spend her weekend on a national platform with a UK-based host discussing events in Virginia, rather than focusing on the people of Wyoming.

Perhaps if she spent more time focusing on the actual needs of our state—like the rising costs of housing and protecting our public lands—instead of chasing national conspiracy theories, she would remember where our borders are.

Wyoming deserves representation that deals in reality and focuses on our 23 counties, not dangerous fiction tailored for national headlines."

Byrd concluded, "I am running to restore a sense of serious, grounded leadership to this seat—one that prioritizes the infrastructure and economic security of our rural communities over partisan theater."

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