Colby Covington celebrating after his 2017 victory in Sao Paolo (Brazil). Covington, a President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition appointee, calls for "blood on the hands" to respond to Trump's unverified "stolen elections" claims. Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesAn Insider investigation found that more than 40 of the prestigious federal boards and commissions currently in office or pending appointments have publicly supported President Trump's lies regarding fraud in the 2020 election, or supported politicians who did.Some made astonishing allusions to violence and aggression, both before and after the January 6 rebellion. Experts suggest they should be fired.Insider examined federal appointments to boards or commissions that oversee institutions such as the Holocaust Museum and Kennedy Center. These oversight functions, among others, are responsible for advising Congress and the White House. The full investigation can be found here.For more stories, visit Insider's homepage.A few federal appointees to high-ranking boards and commissions made shocking references to violence in public comments after the 2020 election. Experts and activists argue that they should be removed from their positions.Jon Voight, actor, sits on Kennedy Center's board of trustees. He posted a November 2020 video to Twitter in which the "Midnight Cowboy” star said that the country was facing its greatest fight since the Civil War. He also called for widespread violence as a response to Biden's election call.Voight spoke in a solemn tone, "My fellow Americans," As if everyone didn't know what the truth was. We know that deceit is not an option. There will be consequences. Let's fight this fight like it's our last fight here on Earth. Voight said that Muhammad Ali was right when he said "It's not over until you have the last punch." Insider was told by a spokesperson for Voight that he was unavailable for comment.Voight's comments were alarming to government integrity experts. These calls for violence could be considered a violation to the oaths of service that many appointees swear to when they take their posts.Continue the storyAustin Evers, an ex-Appointee of the Obama Administration, now heads American Oversight, an independent watchdog for government integrity. "Words can have consequences. The fragility of democracy is the result of someone who simultaneously serves as a federal official and engages in rhetorical arson such as this.Colby Covington, a professional mixed martial artist, made other references to violence when he was appointed to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition. He said, "I know a lot o my right-wing conservative people. They want blood right now," to a March radio audience, in support of a forthcoming fight. "We were cheated out the election. Donald Trump won an unfair election. They cheated and rigged it. We want blood on our hands. So I know many Republicans and right-wingers who want blood. Covington stated, apparently in reference to his upcoming fight. Covington was unable to be reached for comment.Covington is one the two mixed martial artists fighters who were appointed to the council. Jorge Masvidal, a UFC fighter, was also appointed to the panel. He also made reference to violence as a reaction to the election results.Jorge Masvidal will be speaking at a "Fighters Against Socialism” rally in October 2020. He is joined by Donald Trump Jr. Masvidal, who was speaking at a "Fighters Against Socialism" rally in October 2020, with Donald Trump, Jr., tweeted: "I wonder when Trump gonna drop the Hammer to fix the scorecard?" Photo by Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images"The media state declared Joe Biden President. I wonder when Trump will drop the hammer on the scorecard to fix it. Masvidal holds the record for UFC's fastest knockout. He tweeted it on November 7.Masvidal was unable to be reached for comment. The White House was contacted by a representative of the council, who declined to comment on this story. The White House didn't respond.Former president Donald Trump appointed Voight, Covington and Masvidal.An Insider investigation revealed that more than 40 appointees called for violence after the election, publicly propagated unsubstantiated voter fraud claims, downplayed and condoned January 6 violence, or gave generously to politicians who did.The consummation of Masvidal and Covington's memberships on the presidential exercise board was delayed by bureaucratic inertia. Both men were appointed by Trump to the panel in December 2017, but they have not been sworn in or seated. The Biden White House has yet to take steps to create the fitness board under the new administration. Insiders were unable to determine if the delays in setting up the panels were deliberate or if the White House has simply not taken the necessary steps. The White House declined comment.READ THE FULL STORYInsider has the original article.
