Accusations Against Newly Elected Mayor of Coeur d’Alene
The newly elected mayor of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, is facing accusations of making derogatory remarks about Christians. These claims are based on a video compiled from various tirades he shared on social media.
Dan Gookin, a City Council member who has been in office since 2011, won the mayoral race with 34.2% of the vote, defeating the incumbent mayor and two others. Although he ran as a Republican, he has had a contentious relationship with the local GOP.
“I admit my language is salty, and I apologize for that,” Gookin remarked. “I’m passionate, especially when extremists are threatening my community.”
Post-election, clips of his earlier comments about Christians circulated again on social media, featuring several unrelated snippets.
One of the excerpts had him stating, “Christians can be some of the most disrespectful bastards I’ve ever encountered.” Another clip expressed, “If Jesus were here today, I think he would have a message for all Christians: ‘No more!'”
The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee shared a video alongside a condemnation statement in October 2024, noting multiple community complaints regarding Gookin’s reported verbal abuse towards Christians, containing insults and slurs. They affirmed their rejection of any form of superiority or political violence.
In response, Gookin released an instructional video claiming the clips were misleadingly edited to distort his original intent. He clarified that the second comment was part of a larger rant directed at Facebook, suggesting the context was misrepresented.
“What I actually said was, if Jesus were here today, he might advise, ‘Get the f*** off of Facebook!'” he explained in context.
Gookin further pointed out that some comments in the video came from individuals identifying as Christians while mocking the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
“Anyone with a brain knows this is taken out of context! However, the far right lacks brains,” Gookin stated.
He reiterated, “I’m a passionate man. I get worked up when extremists are trying to undermine my community.” He continued to release additional clips detailing his perspective.
Interestingly, Gookin made a point about historical parallels, suggesting that just as the Pharisees utilized technology to misconstrue Christ’s teachings, similar tactics are being employed against him. “Evil hasn’t changed much in 2000 years,” he concluded.
After his election, Gookin expressed gratitude towards the voters of Coeur d’Alene, stating, “The residents made a sound decision, and I’m eager to serve them.”
In October 2023, the KCRCC took legal action against Gookin for defamation, alongside accusations related to election fraud and campaign finance violations. This case was resolved after a mediated settlement that resulted in Gookin receiving $25,000 from his insurance provider.
Additionally, Gookin had defended a local ice cream shop that faced backlash for its support following an incident involving Charlie Kirk.
