(Updated, 5:06 p.m., includes comment from Boise State)
The Guardian US reported last Friday that Boise State University professor Scott Yenor was the “hidden hand” behind the creation of a right-wing website and media platform called Action Idaho. .
Citing public records, including emails sent from Yenor's university email account, the Guardian reports that the political science professor has been seeking funding for the site since May 2021. One would-be donor was Thomas D. Klingenstein, chairman of the conservative Claremont Board of Trustees. The institute reported the Guardian.
Yenor is a researcher at the institute in Claremont, California.
The Action Idaho website began live in early 2022 and has been operational for about two years, the Guardian reported. The site frequently criticized Republicans it deemed not conservative enough, such as House Education Committee Chairwoman Julie Yamamoto, R-Caldwell. He has also been frequently critical of news sites, including Idaho Education News.
Action Idaho remains active on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. However, online gambling sites are now operating using Action Idaho's old URL address.
The Guardian article also linked Theo Wold, currently head of Claremont's Administrative Country Project, to the Action Idaho project. Wold was an aide to former President Trump and most recently an attorney general on Attorney General Raúl Labrador's staff.
Yenor had little to say about the story to the Guardian other than to confirm that conservative writer Pedro Gonzalez had not accepted an offer to lead Action Idaho.
In a statement released late Monday, Boise State did not address Yenor directly.
“We take all allegations of violations of law or policy very seriously and investigate and take action where appropriate,” the statement said. “For legal and ethical reasons, such investigations and their results cannot be shared publicly and often remain unnoticed.”
Friday's article, written by Jason Wilson, a Guardian investigative reporter based in Portland, Oregon, is the site's second in-depth article in the past two weeks focused on Yenor. On March 19, Wilson reported that Yenor was linked to the Society for American Civic Renewal, a secret far-right group open only to men.
Boise State Statement
Here is Boise State's statement in response to this story:
“We take all allegations of violations of law or policy very seriously, investigate and take action where appropriate. For legal and ethical reasons, these investigations and their results cannot be shared publicly and often remain unnoticed. We do not tolerate violations of law or policy.
“As an institution of higher education, we strongly advocate for free speech and academic freedom on our campuses. In the interest of intellectual inquiry and democracy, we invite dissenting voices, dialogue, and debate. Universities should be places that respect and promote the free exchange of ideas. We understand that the open exchange of ideas can lead to some uncomfortable or even very offensive ideas. The State of Boise cannot violate the First Amendment rights of community members, regardless of whether you agree with their views as individuals. Not a single faculty member defines what Boise State or any public university stands for or advocates for.”