Jaime West, a county council candidate in Indiana, has acknowledged consuming alcohol before a general election candidates' forum earlier this month, an appearance that drew widespread attention after she was heard slurring her words. West made the admission during an interview on Piers Morgan's show, according to TMZ.com.
During the exchange, Morgan asked West directly whether she had been drinking before the forum. West initially confirmed she had a beer to settle her nerves. When pressed on the quantity, she disclosed that she had consumed more than one, ultimately stating that she had three beers before the viral clip, according to TMZ.com.
West characterized her condition at the time as "not that intoxicated," speaking to Piers Morgan, and indicated that she was entirely sober for her sit-down with the television presenter. She also maintained that she stands by the substance of the remarks she made during the forum, despite having been under the influence when she delivered them.
The original interview gained traction after West advocated for firing all MAGA Republicans, describing them as racist and dumb and stating plainly that she does not like being around them. The comments, delivered while, by her own account, three Coors Lights deep, propelled the county council hopeful into a national spotlight and prompted the follow-up appearance with Morgan.
The episode raises questions for voters in the district West seeks to represent about candor and composure in public settings. West has not retreated from her positions, framing the remarks as her genuine views rather than an artifact of the moment. Her insistence that she remains committed to those statements, even while acknowledging the circumstances in which she made them, places the controversy squarely in the final stretch before the general election.