Editor’s Note: In a Denver 7 interview this week, U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO) stated that “part of me gets a little bit frustrated” when people ask about his grandfather.
Here’s the background. Evans’ grandfather entered the U.S. illegally in 1929, was subsequently arrested for burglary, served in World War II, and received his U.S. citizenship only after a law was passed that allowed immigrants who entered the country illegally to become citizens, according to Colorado Newsline.
Now, Evans backs Trump’s mass deportation policy and opposes a path to citizenship for any undocumented immigrant, which means his grandfather would be in the crosshairs of ICE now, especially with his criminal conviction. Evans supports a bill allowing some immigrants to live and work in the U.S. without citizenship, but his grandfather wouldn’t even have qualified for Evans’ own proposal, unless he successfully appealed his case. Still, Evans invokes his grandfather repeatedly when he’s asked about immigration, falsely claiming — prior to the Newsline story — that his grandfather “did it the right way and did it the legal way.”
Referencing those who bring up his grandfather, Evans told Denver 7, “And if detractors want to detract about something that happened 90 years ago, well, you know what? I think that’s why we saw a lot of the Hispanic population shift in the 2024 election.”
In the opinion piece below, Evans’s aunt, Jennifer Chavez, responds to her nephew’s Denver 7 interview.
“I will tell you who his greatest detractors would be! His grandfather”
Gabe states that he is frustrated over the family issues being raised over and over again. What most frustrates me, his aunt, is his disrespect toward his grandfather. He uses his grandfather’s good honor and character to suggest that he, Gabe, emulates him.
I used to be very proud of what Gabe had accomplished in his life and career. Then he made the choice to follow Trump, a known and convicted felon! He made the choice to put his religious beliefs above all others! Now he has lost my respect and dishonored our side of the family! For what?
Detractors for Gabe? I will tell you who his greatest detractors would be! His grandfather, whom he intimates would be supportive of his lies about our family and his so-called Hispanic heritage! He only uses it to trick other Latinos into voting for him!
Our father barely knew [Evans] or his brothers due to them being so extreme and radical in their religious and political beliefs!
Our dad [Evans’ grandfather] was a hard-core Democrat! The last thing he would have approved of is being used as a pawn in Gabe’s campaign! He would have despised Trump and everything he stands for! Based on our father’s military experiences and the death of our oldest cousin in Vietnam, he would have loathed Trump for his cowardice!
His two Aunts, myself included, are completely ashamed of who Gabe has become! My other sister, his mother, would not like what our dad would say to him and her for what they are doing! They in no way, shape, or form represent what our parents were! Hardcore Democrats!
RELATED: ‘I Couldn’t Remain Silent:’ Don’t Vote for My Nephew Gabe Evans for Congress
