Indiana Democratic candidate Jaime West acknowledged Monday that she drank “three beers” before delivering a slurred, widely shared interview in which she vowed to fire all Republicans.
West, who is seeking a seat on the Fayetteville County Council, told “Piers Morgan Uncensored” that she “wasn’t that intoxicated” during a rambling appearance at a televised local forum on Oct. 9.
Morgan noted that many viewers believed West was drunk during what he characterized as a disastrous forum appearance. West initially conceded only that she had consumed “a Coors Light.”
Morgan, unconvinced that she had disclosed the full amount, pressed West on whether she had really consumed just one beer before the interview.
West then acknowledged that she had actually had “a couple.”
READ MORE: How Susie Wiles Set a TV Trap for Press Secretary Katie Zacharia
“I was nervous! I was going into a room full of Republicans,” West said, offering an explanation for drinking before the event.
Morgan gave West what he described as a chance to be fully honest and transparent, asking her to state exactly how many drinks she had before the slurred conversation.
“Alright, three. Three beers. What do you want me to say, man? I had three beers,” West replied.
The Indiana Democrat maintained that she “wasn’t that intoxicated” and said she still “knew what I’m talking about when it comes to Indiana politics.”
West also told Morgan that she was sober during their interview. When he asked whether she would retract anything from her viral appearance, she declined to do so.
“I say it all the time – I’m not friends with [Republicans]. I don’t like them. They voted for all of this that’s happening to our country,” West said.
