GOP candidate rejects governor’s attempt to push him out of race over 'salacious' photos

John Reid, who is the Republican nominee in Virginia lieutenant governor's race this November, declined to drop out after Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin asked him to end his campaign over illicit photos Reid allegedly reposted.

Reid said the photos of men posted to a social media account are a fabricated to smear on him for being openly gay.

“The Governor did call me today and said there were salacious pictures on the internet reposted by an account that uses my Instagram handle,” Reid told the Washington Post. “I have now seen the supposed ‘evidence’ and it’s not my account, even though they’ve used a similar username to what I have on Instagram. As long as I have been in the public space, I have been a target for malicious and salacious lies. This is the second overt attempt to try to force me from the race.”

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The Tumblr account in question dates to at least 2020 and shares the same handle as Reid’s other social media accounts, according to anonymous sources. The Washington Post’s internet archive Wayback Machine reveals the now-deleted account reposted pictures ranging from racy underwear to explicit photos of male models.

Reid is Virginia’s first openly gay candidate for statewide office. Rival GOP candidate Pat Herrity dropped out this week, clearing the way for his upcoming election.

The Republican nominee expressed outrage that Gov. Youngkin made the request in the first place.

“Am I really expected to answer every twisted, intrusive question about my previous relationships, every person I ever had sex with, every dating app I was ever on?” he said. “Is anyone at the Richmond State Capitol or in D.C. planning on doing the same?”

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Read the full Washington Post report here.