Don Bolduc doubles down on false claim about school litter trays for students who identify as cats
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Republican Senate candidate Don Bolduc insists parents told him schools put litter boxes for students who identify as cats — and officials must prove him wrong, even as claim has been debunked
- Don Bolduc runs for Senate in thrilling race in New Hampshire
- In audio obtained by CNN, he scolded ‘furries’ who lick themselves at school
- He was challenged about the claims – which are based on an urban myth
- And he doubled it and insisted he was told it happened
- I only articulate what I heard from Granite Staters, parents, children’
Republican Senate candidate Don Bolduc on Wednesday doubled down on claims about schools giving litter boxes to students who identify as cats — even if it’s based on an urban myth that has been debunked.
Bolduc, a retired Army Brigadier General who challenges Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan in New Hampshire, shared the hoax at a weekend event.
According to fact-checkers, the false claim is based on reports that some schools have stockpiled litter boxes in case children are locked in classrooms for hours during an active shooting event.
When Bolduc was challenged on his claim on Wednesday, he took care not to say it was true. Instead, he said it was what he had been told.
“So what I was talking about is all the craziness that’s going on in our schools. And this is just one of them,” he told NBC News.
“And I had a parent and a student in that audience come up to me and tell me all about it. I’ve had that all over the state.
“So I’m only articulating what I’ve heard from Granite Staters, parents, children.”
Don Bolduc is running for Senate in New Hampshire. On Wednesday, he defended his claims about schools giving litter boxes to students who identify as cats
His language was more cautious than at a recent campaign event when he railed against allowing furries and fuzzies to ‘lick’ themselves in class.
Instead, he denounced schools that lied about teaching “critical race theory” and transgender issues.
“I don’t flinch,” he said.
“Okay, you got the wrong man.
“Just because they say it, they have to prove it. Prove it. I have parents and children who tell me.’
Culture war battles over gender identity and education have picked up the litter box hoax by a string of Republican politicians.
At a luncheon for Republican women in Colorado last month, Representative Laurent Boebert claimed that schools are ‘putting’ litter boxes in schools for people who identify as cats.’
Minnesota governor Scott Jensen reportedly asked during a campaign blackout a month earlier:Why do we have litter boxes in some school districts for kids to pee in because they identify as a furry dog?’
Joe Rogan brought it up on his popular podcast.
The debunked rumor has long lived online and has been picked up by conservatives trying to make a point about education and gender identity – sparking ridicule
A recent NBC News review found that at least 20 conservative candidates or elected officials had made similar claims.
But while “furries” exist as a subculture of people who like to dress up in animal costumes, school districts have repeatedly denied that litter boxes were ever used for children who identify as cats.
But a Colorado school district told NBC it had included kitty litter in “go buckets” that contain emergency supplies in case students are trapped in a classroom during a shooting.
That hasn’t stopped the myth from flaring up on social media and in conservative speeches about gender identity and education.
CNN obtained audio from Bolduc making similar claims
‘Guess? We have fur and down in the classroom,’ he told the crowd. ‘They lick themselves, they’re cats.
“If they don’t like something, they hiss – people walk down the hall and jump out,” he said, as a hissing sound was heard.
“And get this, get this: they put litter boxes, right? That’s what litter boxes are for. …’