Outgoing Maine Gov Repeats Claim That Minorities Bring Drugs

PORTLAND, Maine - Maine's departing Republican governor is doubling down on his discredited claim that out-of-state black and Hispanic drug dealers are responsible for an overwhelming percentage of drug trafficking in the state. Gov. Paul LePage repeated his claim Thursday afternoon on Maine Public. A caller to the show criticized the governor for profiling minorities as drug dealers, and LePage responded that "it's true.''
 
LePage proceeded to say "97 percent'' of drug dealers in the state were minorities. He first made a similar claim in the summer of 2016, saying it was backed up by news clippings he collected. An Associated Press analysis concluded the statement was wrong.
 
LePage is moving to Florida after he leaves office. His replacement, Democratic Attorney General Janet Mills, will be sworn in next month.