Anti-masker's profane outburst targeting Kansas Reflector editor restored to video recording [View all]

An anti-masker’s profane outburst targeting Kansas Reflector editor Sherman Smith is now posted online after initially being edited out of a video of a Kansas legislative committee meeting, prompting concerns about the Legislature’s transparency.

Justin Spiehs, who referred to himself as a doctor, appeared before the Legislature’s Special Committee on Government Overreach and the Impact of COVID-19 Mandates on Saturday to rail against mask mandates and say Kansans who oppose restrictions meant to limit the spread of COVID-19 are up against “a bunch of weaklings.”

Toward the end of his comments, he turned his animosity toward Smith.

“And Sherman Smith, the editor of the Kansas Reflector, go f*** yourself, little b****. Snarky mother f***er,” Spiehs said before his microphone was silenced and he was escorted out of the room by Capitol police.

But while the video of the meeting was posted on the Legislature’s YouTube page, Spiehs’ diatribe was missing for days. The 28-second exchange between Spiehs and Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, had been edited out, leaving silence.

Read more: https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/anti-maskers-profane-outburst-targeting-reflector-editor-restored-to-video-recording/

Spiehs is an assistant professor at Washburn University.