Peter Mills, the former executive director of the Maine Turnpike Authority, emerged this week as one of the top faces of “Republicans for Harris.”
The group mirrored in Maine the sudden emergence of a supposed Republican outpouring of support nationally for far-left Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign.
But in secretly recorded audio obtained by the Maine Wire from a citizen journalist, Peter Mills revealed that the entire group is astroturf organized by Amy Cookson, a campaign staffer for Vice President Harris’s campaign.
In the recorded audio, Mills, who is the brother of Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and is himself a registered Democrat, explains to a man posing as ‘Tim Dillon’ — an aspiring member of the astroturf group — that it’s being run by Cookson.
The man was asked to contact Cookson, who has previously worked for Planned Parenthood and some elected Democrats, at an email account ending @kamalaharris.com.
“I think she’s a paid worker,” said Mills. “I think that’s her job here is to find– she’s looking– she has an organization called Republicans for Harris.”
“She’d be the main representative of that group,” he said. “I think it’s a national structure that’s being organized by, obviously, by the Harris campaign.”
Offering an insight into the Harris’ campaigns strategy for Maine’s Second Congressional District, Mills explained on the recorded call that Harris’s paid staffers were “anxious” to find people from northern Maine who could claim to be Republican former Trump supporters that planned to vote for Harris.
“They’re really, really, very anxious to find some Second District Republicans who can say, well, I’ve had enough of this Trump guy, and I’ll probably stay a Republican, but I can’t vote for him,” Mills said. “You know, words of that effect, it would be very influential.”
Mills, who more than a decade ago ran for governor as a Republican, was one of three “Republicans” put forward as the faces of the pro-Harris group organized by Democrats.
Tony Payne, a lobbyist who is listed in the Maine voter file as unaffiliated with either party, was also listed in the press release, along with Roger Katz, a former GOP State Senator who frequently criticized and opposed conservative Republican Gov. Paul LePage.
[RELATED: Maine Wire Sues Janet Mills for Violating Freedom of Access Act…]
Although the “Republicans for Harris” that Cookson managed to drum up aren’t all registered Republicans or even active in Maine politics, the astroturf scheme did serve its purpose thanks to credulous media outlets and a sympathetic left-wing blog.
In an email sent around Thursday, Cookson bragged about the success of the “Republicans for Harris” ploy in getting local media coverage — an email chain that included a list of coverage from dozens of other states for similar efforts.
The email suggests that the Harris campaign centrally orchestrated a series of press releases to make it appears as though a groundswell of prominent Republicans had announced support for Harris.
Instead, at least in Maine, the “Republicans for Harris” group appears to be comprised of paid-lobbyists, registered Democrats, and a Republican ex-politician known mostly for his criticisms of other Republicans.
Apart from putting out press releases to take advantage of gullible news reporters, it’s not clear whether the group of pseudo-Republicans have any further activities planned in Maine.
Although Mills has previously announced his resignation from the Maine Turnpike Authority, on the call he claims that he is still working for the MTA and is, in fact, on the job during the call.
In other words, the Democratic governor’s Democrat brother was recruiting for the Harris presidential campaign while working at his government job.
(Full disclosure: Maine Wire Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson once interned for Peter Mills’ gubernatorial campaign. He regrets the error.)
Democrats trying to pull a fast one? Say it ain’t so!
“the Democratic governor’s Democrat brother was recruiting for the Harris presidential campaign while working at his government job.” Standard Operating Procedure.
Peter Mills always was a snake and this proves it.
How disappointing, to see Peter Mills turn into a corrupt Commie. Glad now he never gained the Blaine House. FOR SHAME, Peter…
BTW, Roger Katz is a flaming RINO with 0 respect from most Real Republicans!
Both of these scumbags just show their true colors. Worse part is the people of Maine are clueless, they don’t take the time to research/learn anything. They sit and watch the mainstream media, wonder why they’re taxed to death and can’t afford food. Maine citizens need to wake up or you might as well call Maine California East.
Registered Democrat? He ran against Paul Lepage in the Republican primary during Lepage’s first campaign.
can we say corrupt scum !?
This is right up there with the cringe worthy White Dudes For Harris. We saw how that worked out.
I once questioned Mr. Mills on his reversal on a tax issue, instead of answering or defending himself he just turned and walked away.
Have the Dems ever won WITHOUT cheating? Nope. And they won’t thistle either. Especially withTweedle Dumb andTweedle Dumber on the ticket .
I am truly amazed that Katz and Payne and the like would stand up for Harris/Walz. Walz is the epitome of the worst that Democrats can offer. And Kamala was never destined to be president except on the coattails of someone else.
So here’s the reason I’m likely to return to the Republican Party. The new V.P. is saying the right things without all the threats and shenanigans that Trump uses. I believe that his willingness to speak up is a more appropriate tone – its attractive.
So despite myself, a former never Trumper, I have to support J.D. Vance over Walz. Honestly, I would rather deal with Biden’s issues than risk the junk coming out of Walz’s mouth.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road …
Just another example of politicians sucking green donkey dinks.