Collins abruptly ends Forsyth healthcare presser after questions on antisemitism ties
Thu, July 30, 2026 at 6:51 PM
UpdatedFri, July 31, 2026 at 3:58 AM
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U.S. Representative Mike Collins abruptly ends Forsyth healthcare presser after questions on antisemitism ties on July 30, 2026 (Gloria Ruth Finney, WGXA)
MONROE COUNTY, Ga. (WGXA) —Georgia U.S. House Rep. and GOP senatorial candidate Mike Collins abruptly ended a press conference in Forsyth on Thursday after reporters questioned his alleged ties to antisemitism and White nationalism
Collins visited Monroe County Hospital to outline his healthcare priorities in Georgia as he campaigns to unseat Democratic incumbent U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff in November
U.S. Representative Mike Collins abruptly ends Forsyth healthcare presser after questions on antisemitism ties on July 30, 2026 (Gloria Ruth Finney, WGXA)
After speaking with hospital administrators about his plans to lower health care costs and strengthen access to quality care for rural Georgians, he stepped up to the podium to address media questions
However, when pressed to address and condemn widespread claims of his son-in-law’s ties to antisemitism and white nationalism, he refused to address the question directly, raising his own questions about Ossoff’s record
“You know, we’ve fully addressed that,” Collins said. “But Jon Ossoff refuses to disavow these democrat socialist movements in our country. As a matter of fact, he embraces that.”
WGXA’s Gloria Ruth Finney doubled down, asking Collins, “Could you address the question regarding anti-semitism?”
Collins continued by claiming Ossoff should be questioned about his policies on transgender rights, federal spending, cash bail, immigration and why he supports “anti-Israel extremists.”
“There aren’t Georgia values, y’all; that’s what he needs to answer for,” Collins said
“What role has your son-in-law played in your campaign?” another reporter asked
When asked to address the question once more, Collins walked away from the podium, thanking the reporters for their time
As he walked away, another reporter asked, “You don’t want to talk about your son-in-law at all? You want to embrace him in the family? Share his views?”
These questions come after CNNreported that Collins ‘ son-in-law, David Scheer II, was using his social media following to promote white nationalist and antisemitic ideology on July 16
Hours before Representative Collins stopped in Forsyth, Senator Ossoff held a virtual press conference to once again address the antisemitic social media posts, with his team referring to Scheer as a “Neo-Nazi propagandist” and demanding Collins answer if Scheer has any ties to his campaign or businesses
“He needs to release every single email, text message and communication between his office and these White supremacists,” Ossoff said. “And he needs to finally answer the question you all have been asking him for two weeks and that he has refused to answer, which is: how much did he or his businesses pay this neo-nazi for his services?”
U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff holds virutal press conference demanding that GOP opponent U.S. Rep. Mike Collins address his son-in-law’s ties to antisemitism and White nationalism on July 30, 2026 (Jordan Stevenson, WGXA)
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The Collins campaign previously told WGXA that the Georiga representative has always condemned antisemitism
“Rep. Collins has always condemned all forms of antisemitism and always will regardless of the is guided by his personal beliefs and backed by his consistent voting record,” a spokesperson said in a statement on July 16
This also comes as Ossoff claimed Collins’ healthcare policies are hurting rural hospitals after healthcare advocates and nurses at St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia said at a Georgia Democrat press conference on Wednesday that Medicaid cuts Collins supported under the Trump Administration closed its labor and delivery unit, which was one of the last in the area
“Listen to what those nurses up in Lavonia at St. Mary’s Hospital said yesterday,” Ossoff said. “That hospital is shutting down its birthing unit, citing the Medicaid cuts that Mike Collins voted for. He voted for the largest Medicaid cut in American history, and to double health insurance premiums for more than a million Georgians.”
In a press relase on Thursday, Collins says he plans on “doubling the current investment into rural healthcare” and claims that Ossoff voted against a $200 million allocation to Georgia’s rural healthcare in his “Rural Health Transformation Program” legislation
“Jon Ossoff had the opportunity to help Georgia’s rural communities and hospitals, but he put politics ahead of the people–and tried to block over $200 million dollars directed towards Georgia rural hospitals,” Collins said in a statement. “That same bill delivered no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on social security–but he wouldn’t budge. That’s not a Senator that stands up for our state, has its peoples back, and will do whatever it takes to deliver for them. That’s a Senator that is too scared to stand up against his own party to do what’s right.”
Stick with WGXA as we learn more and keep you ready for what’s next
