Clay Parikh — a special government employee whose election conspiracy claims were linked to a recent FBI raid at a Fulton County, Georgia election office, has described Pride displays in churches as evidence of “the devil trying to brainwash people.”
Parikh declined to explain when he became a special government employee or outline his official responsibilities when questioned by a reporter from Talking Points Memo (TPM). He did, however, share a range of political and religious views, including claims that a “pure evil” secret group of “deep state” operatives is endangering the United States.
Parikh has long promoted claims that U.S. elections have been fraudulent. He has appeared alongside Mike Lindell, the MyPillow entrepreneur known for spreading 2020 election conspiracy theories. Parikh also served as an expert cybersecurity witness in support of allegations made by former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, whose election challenges were ultimately rejected by the Arizona Supreme Court.
He has further alleged unspecified “cheating” in the 2024 elections, though he did not provide specific evidence when pressed.
‘I’m in This Fight’
Speaking to TPM, Parikh said he has little faith in the United States and believes freedom in the country is largely illusory.
When asked whether he has faith in the president, Parikh replied:
“If you put your faith in people, you’re going to be hurt. The only person I put my faith in is my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, right? So I’m not going to comment about anybody else. All I can tell you is, I’m in this fight.”
According to TPM, he appeared emotional during parts of the exchange.
Parikh also criticised restaurant chain Cracker Barrel, claiming the company no longer sells “real chicken” and suggesting its food quality declined before what he described as “woke stuff.” The chain faced backlash from some conservatives in 2025 after temporarily updating its logo design.
In other remarks, Parikh said he adds alcohol to his soda “to sanitise it.”
Religious Framing of Political Conflict
Parikh characterised what he described as a powerful anti-American group as “demonic in nature.”
“It’s got to be, you know, and if you’re asking me this to try to turn it around and make me out to be a wack job, that’s whatever,” he said.
He continued:
“Controlling things and more power, that’s evil. That’s the devil’s work right there. And so, whether they’re actually bowing down, and drinking blood, and doing whatever Satanists will do, that’s irrelevant. When you do pure evil things that violate what God’s instructed us to do, you are evil, you are demonic.”
Parikh also criticised churches that display Pride symbols.
“Some of the churches are wrong that have gay pride stuff in it,” he said. “That’s not a church. That’s obviously the devil trying to brainwash people. That’s my personal beliefs.”
His comments come amid ongoing national debates around LGBTQ+ visibility in religious spaces and broader political tensions over election integrity claims.
