CU Boulder Denounces Professor's D.C. Speech: 'Repugnant'

BOULDER, CO — Many University of Colorado Boulder students and faculty members are calling for the dismissal of a visiting professor who spoke to supporters of President Trump before the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Chapman University Professor John Eastman is a visiting scholar in CU Boulder's Benson Center for Western Civilization, Thought and Policy. He's known for promoting election fraud conspiracy theories, and he appeared on stage alongside Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal lawyer, who called for "trial by combat."

In a letter to the campus community, CU Boulder Chancellor Philip DiStefano said that Eastman and others at the rally "fanned the flames of disinformation and distrust" and contributed to the mob.

"[Eastman's] continued advocacy of conspiracy theories is repugnant, and he will bear the shame for his role in undermining confidence in the rule of law," DiStefano's letter says, in part.

The chancellor said that Eastman's conduct does not reflect the university's values, and that the visiting professor has "embarrassed" the institution.

"I have heard the requests that I dismiss him. In considering this question, I first look at the Board of Regents’ policies, which state that the university will not censor a faculty member’s political statements or initiate disciplinary action because it disapproves of them," the letter says.

"That policy stems from the First Amendment, which protects even abhorrent or ignorant political speech and prevents public employers from taking adverse action. Yesterday, we learned the high price of disregard of the law and the Constitution. I will not violate the law by removing a visiting professor from a position that he will occupy at most for only a few more months, as his contract will expire in May."

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Top officials at Chapman University, in Orange County, California, have also denounced Eastman.

"Eastman’s actions are in direct opposition to the values and beliefs of our institution," Chapman University President Daniela Struppa says in a letter to the campus community.

"He has now put Chapman in the position of being publicly disparaged for the actions of a single faculty member."

Patch reached out to Eastman for comment but did not immediately hear back.

The insurrection temporarily suspended Electoral College proceedings to confirm Joe Biden as the nation's 46th president and also contributed to the deaths of five people.

With only two weeks left in his term, House Democrats laid out their plan on Friday for a swift impeachment of Trump. By Saturday, they had 180 co-sponsors signed on to introduce Articles of Impeachment on the House floor.