Controversial Brownface and Sombrero Stunt Sparks Debate Over Proposed Immigration Rule

In a startling and controversial turn of events at a state legislature meeting, a conservative provocateur made headlines by attending in a racially insensitive costume. Donning brownface and a sombrero, David Pettinger, a figure notorious for his disruptive antics in Idaho, lent his support to a new immigration bill.

Pettinger, aged 49, has built a reputation for his extreme and provocative displays, often showing up at political gatherings and protests in exaggerated and offensive caricatures. His latest appearance was no exception, as he attended a hearing on Monday before the Idaho House Business Committee.

The focus of the hearing was a bill proposing that all private employers be mandated to use the federal E-Verify program. This program is designed to verify the immigration status of employees, ensuring they are authorized to work in the United States. Alongside this, the House passed another piece of legislation aimed at criminalizing the employment of undocumented workers.

Pettinger’s support for the bill was overshadowed by his choice of attire, which many saw as a racist caricature. His appearance in brownface and a sombrero sparked outrage and drew significant attention away from the legislative discussions at hand.

Pettinger attended the hearing to support the bill. He arrived in a racist costume that included brownface and a sombrero. 

Pettinger was not wearing the sombrero during his testimony, but posted a photo on his social media in the vile getup. 

The committee’s acting chair, Representative Josh Wheeler, called Pettinger to the stand, who immediately began speaking in a botched Spanish accent. 

Pettinger pretended not to understand English and asked to use an interpreter. He then lifted his arm to reveal handcuffs shackled to his wrist. 

David Pettinger, pictured above in a recent social media post, arrived at a state legislature meeting on Monday in brownface and a sombrero 

Pettinger spoke in a botched Spanish accent using a ‘translator’ before he was instructed to speak in English and deliver his remarks 

Representative Steve Berch quickly put a stop to the display, instructing Pettinger that the meeting was ‘not performance theater.’ 

‘If we can please have straight testimony. Otherwise, I don’t think this is appropriate form of testimony for this committee here,’ Berch added. 

Wheeler seemed to hold back laughter as he instructed Pettinger to provide constructive feedback. 

He later told the Idaho Statesman that it was uncomfortable laughter. The American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho and Planned Parenthood called out Wheeler and Representatives Jordan Redman and Brent Crane for laughing during Pettinger’s testimony. 

Crane called for a pause as lawmakers discussed how to proceed. They decided to give Pettinger his time if he continued in English. 

Crane told local NBC affiliate, KTVB, that he spoke to Pettinger during the recess and asked him to testify without the accent, threatening to remove the provocateur if he did not comply. 

Pettinger then spoke for his remaining minute and a half, pretending to be an ‘illegal alien.’ 

He concluded his time by telling the legislators, ‘I was looking forward to giving you some entertainment and I think that you would have enjoyed that testimony substantially more, but considering that I don’t want to end up in these handcuffs again by your friends from the Idaho State Patrol in the back, we will just leave it at that.’ 

Pettinger is a known far-right activist in Idaho. He’s pictured above in a mugshot photo from an arrest in 2021 

Pettinger has been arrested multiple times for acts of disturbing the peace. He’s pictured above in an undated mugshot 

Pettinger, pictured above in a social media post, has previously worn blackface and brownface, and dressed up as Adolf Hitler 

Chair of the Idaho Democratic Queer Caucus Nikson Matthews testified next against the bill and condemned Pettinger’s display. 

Matthews called Pettinger’s testimony ‘unacceptable’ and questioned why his colleagues did not remove him. 

Wheeler pushed back that the committee handled the outburst ‘in the way that we best saw fit.’ 

Wheeler later told the Statesman that it ‘would have been good’ if Pettinger had removed the brownface, adding, ‘If I had more time, and the presence of mind, I would have preferred that.’

Crane told the publication that he believed the committee maintained order and decorum while allowing Pettinger his First Amendment right. 

‘What you should be saying is, “You know what, chairman, you did a great job de-escalating the situation and still ensuring an individual’s First Amendment rights were upheld.”‘ 

‘Mr Pettinger, again, tries to make a point through humor,’ Crane added. ‘And I’ve got a pretty good sense of humor.’

The representative said there are no House rules that prohibit brownface, blackface, or any costumes. 

Pettinger is a frequent attendee at counterprotests and public government hearings. He’s pictured above in 2021 at a protest pretending to be a ‘Little Gay King’ 

Representative Josh Wheeler, pictured above, was seen holding in laughter as Pettinger spoke. He later told the Idaho Statesman it was because he was uncomfortable 

House Rule 26 allows officials to remove individuals who disrupt the meeting. Some legislators agreed with the chairman’s decision to allow Pettinger to speak, while others believed it condoned the offensive behavior. 

Representative Jason Monks told the Statesman that, ‘Unfortunately or fortunately, freedom of speech allows people to be offensive. 

‘Some people I think take advantage of that situation and are intentionally offensive to prove a point. … We’re going to try to maintain as much decorum as we can.’

The ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and the Idaho Queer Caucus issued statements condemning Pettinger’s behavior. 

Ruby Mendez-Mota with the ACLU of Idaho called the demonstration ‘clearly racist’ and accused the committee of supporting the message by allowing Pettinger speak. 

‘Allowing a racist demonstration in an official hearing is abhorrent conduct from an elected leader and deeply damaging to the integrity of the House as a legislative body,’ Mistie DelliCarpini-Tolman, the Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates Regional Political Director, added. 

Mathews pointed out that this was not Pettinger’s first stunt and called on House leadership to publicly apologize for allowing him to speak. 

Representatives in the legislature allowed Pettinger to speak to ensure his First Amendment right 

Chair of the Idaho Democratic Queer Caucus Nikson Matthews, pictured above, condemned Pettinger’s display and questioned why lawmakers did not remove him from the Statehouse 

Pettinger has a long history of disruptive stunts and is a well-known figure in Idaho. Last April, he was filmed taking down a pride flag in front of City Hall and placing it into a trash bag in a vandalism incident first reported by the Idaho Statesman. 

He took down the flag with a man named Casey Whalen, who the Institute for Research & Education on Human Rights said has promoted ‘bigoted’ and ‘conspiratorial’ beliefs, including that the ‘LGBTQ movement is a serious mental illness.’ 

He was arrested in 2021 for disturbing the peace after congregating outside the home of former Ada County Commissioner and Central District Health board member Diana Lachiondo. 

Pettinger was arrested at the Idaho Statehouse during a different protest, where he arrived in Joker makeup and green hair.

Pettinger was arrested in 2021 for disturbing the peace. He’s pictured above getting apprehended while dressed like the Joker 

The recent incident at the Statehouse is not the first time Pettinger has wore blackface or brownface. He’s pictured above in a photo shared to social media in another offensive costume 

He also posted the name of the 19-year-old intern who accused disgraced former representative Aaron Vol Ehlinger of rape. Ehlinger was sentenced to at least eight years in prison for felony crime of rape in 2022. 

Last March, he attended a counterprotest to support Tesla with a fake moustache and a T-shirt that read ‘Literally Hitler’ written on the back with a photo of Elon Musk appearing to give the Nazi salute, Wired reported at the time. 

He was filmed shouting in a German accent: ‘My people will be free, my people will rule again.’ 

Pettinger told Wired that he dressed as Hitler to ‘make fun of the overuse of the terms Nazi and fascist.’