EmmaLee Robinson was Chad Christensen's supervisor at State Farm Insurance in Idaho Falls. She made the recording.
Robinson saw a Facebook comment thread on an East Idaho News story about Christensen's 2020 race and reached out privately to Gregory Graf, telling him she had "red flags" about Christensen. Before taking that call, she told Christensen about it. Sworn deposition testimony in Case No. CV10-21-1197 established that Christensen helped her download a recording app on her phone. His voice is audible in the first minute of the recording, coaching her before she stepped outside to take Graf's call. She recorded the conversation without Graf's knowledge or consent.
She forwarded the recording to Christensen. He forwarded it to Greg Pruett the following morning.
Robinson also provided the recording directly to counsel at Melaleuca, where Graf worked, a step that bypassed the media campaign and targeted Graf's employment on its own track. The recording became the stated basis for a multi-part smear series co-published by Dustin Hurst and Pruett on Keep Idaho Free.
In her deposition, Robinson claimed she never gave Pruett permission to publish the recording. The timeline of her communications contradicts that account. She had been in active contact with Pruett throughout. Text messages recovered in discovery document coordination before the articles appeared, including a message referencing Bryan Smith's offer of pre-committed free legal defense to the network's participants. Robinson sent the "no permission" message to Pruett only after Graf's attorney issued a cease and desist. Pruett's own November 1 text explicitly references receiving that letter and tells Robinson not to worry. The denial arrived after the legal exposure did.
Robinson did not face legal consequence for her role. Graf's counterclaims against her were dismissed on procedural grounds.
She has not stepped back. Robinson is listed as a $100 contributor to Christensen's 2026 campaign, meaning the woman who coordinated the recording, who was his supervisor during the years the litigation was active, is now a financial backer of his next run. On social media, she has continued to repeat and amplify narratives about Graf that the court record directly contradicts. After sitting for six hours of deposition testimony, she taunted Graf on Twitter about not being able to remember his face. When pressed on whether she owed him an apology, she said she was "confused about why I'd apologize."
The Greasy Graf Exchange
In January 2022, while Christensen's lawsuit against Graf was still active, Hurst was publicly calling Graf "Greasy Graf" on Twitter. Robinson joined those exchanges.
When confronted about the nickname, Hurst offered a defense: "Greasy = slimeball. Graf knows that, but he wants to score fake political points." Robinson replied: "That's what I thought."
Graf then explained publicly what "greasy" means as a slur. His mother legally immigrated from Mexico with his grandparents. "Greasy" is what white kids called her at school. His family had lived with the word as a weapon. He explained that Hurst was using a racial slur with a documented history of dehumanizing Latino immigrants, and that it brought pain to his family.
Robinson accused Graf of racism. "Then stop the racist HATE Graf!!!" she wrote, replying to both Graf and Hurst. "This is all on you. I'm shaking because I'm physically ill by you calling Hispanics greasy."
She had it backward. Hurst applied the slur to Graf. Graf explained why it was one. Robinson, who had no prior relationship with Graf before coordinating the secret recording against him, sided with the person who used the slur and accused the person it was directed at of being the racist. She then went further, apologizing to Hurst, not to Graf, for having joked earlier about asking whether Hurst was racist: "I'm so sorry I joked earlier about even asking you about being racist. Racism isn't a joke."
By September 2022, Robinson was using her own variant in replies directed at Graf. She called him "Gross Graf," adding: "Why did Gross Graf, since we aren't racist, need batteries for his remote so bad?" The parenthetical "since we aren't racist" sits alongside a demeaning nickname directed at a person of Mexican heritage, posted nearly two years after the original secret recording.
Sources
- Court Opinion, CV10-21-1197 (Robinson's role established by the court)
- Deposition of EmmaLee Robinson, CV10-21-1197 (recording coordination, forwarding to Christensen, providing to Melaleuca counsel)
- Robinson Deposition Exhibits, CV10-21-1197 (text messages including Bryan Smith defense offer)
- 2026 Idaho campaign finance records (Robinson $100 donation to Christensen)
- Screenshots: Twitter exchanges between Robinson, Dustin Hurst, and Gregory Graf (January and September 2022, retained by Gregory Graf)
The Pattern Beyond the Court Case
White Pine Charter School District 464 • 2019–2021
The behavior documented in CV10-21-1197 was not EmmaLee Robinson's first documented pattern of this kind. A multi-year record at White Pine Charter School — where Robinson served as a board member and eventually board chair — documents a consistent pattern of procedural violations, secret decision-making, legal exposure, and a community that repeatedly had to fight to learn what was happening on their own board.
2019: The Invalidated Board Election
In May 2019 — more than a year before the Christensen recording — White Pine Charter School held a board election with serious integrity failures. Digital ballots were submitted through a Google Form with no voter eligibility check and no limit on how many times anyone could vote. Paper ballots were spoiled when milk was spilled on them and discarded.
Robinson won that election. But within days, an anonymous teacher filed a letter alleging that board administrator Joanna Stark had been electioneering on school property during election week — telling teachers to vote for Robinson and Amber Beck. A board member who was also a cybersecurity professional stated in writing that the election had "no integrity" due to the unsecured digital voting process.
The board paid attorney Doug Nelson $10,877 in public school funds to investigate. His report found that three witnesses confirmed Stark's statements "appeared clearly intended to solicit votes for Emmalee Robinson and/or Amber Beck." Although Nelson found no conclusive evidence of a criminal violation under Idaho's nonprofit law, he identified multiple systemic failures: no voter eligibility list, no ballot log, no safeguards against repeat voting, and destroyed paper ballots. He recommended a new election. The board's own attorney, Bret Walther, agreed — warning the board it might have trouble in an audit if it couldn't validate its members' elections.
On June 28, 2019, the board officially overturned the election results — negating Robinson's win.
2019–2020: Reported Open Meeting Law Concerns in Five Months
Following the invalidated election, the board faced reports of a possible open meeting law violation. The board's decision to hire attorney Doug Nelson and authorize the $10,877 investigation had been made in executive session — without a public vote and without open deliberation. Idaho's open meeting law requires formation of public policy to occur in open meetings. A section of the law provides that actions taken in violation can be declared null and void by a court.
The Bonneville County Sheriff's Office confirmed a complaint was filed with law enforcement. Officers declined to pursue charges, in part because the board took corrective steps. Board chair Adam Frugoli said he didn't personally believe any laws were violated, but wanted to take corrective action "just in case." The board announced it would undergo open-meeting training from the Idaho School Boards Association.
Less than five months later, Robinson — now serving as board chair — acknowledged a second set of concerns. The board confirmed that $85,000 in public funds had been approved for two facilities projects without open discussion or a board vote. A now-former administrator had approved the funds unilaterally, leaving Idaho taxpayers in the dark about their financial obligation. The board also acknowledged it had privately discussed hiring a forensic auditor to probe past financials.
2020: Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit — Robinson Named Personally
On May 7, 2020, White Pine Charter School's own principal, Jeremy Clarke, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the school — and named EmmaLee Robinson personally as a defendant. The suit was filed under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the federal civil rights statute that allows individuals to sue for deprivation of constitutional rights under color of state law.
The case is Clarke v. White Pine Charter School, Inc., et al., No. 4:2020cv00214, before U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill in the District of Idaho. The complaint was classified as Civil Rights: Jobs — meaning Clarke alleged his employment rights were violated by board members acting in their official capacities. Robinson was named alongside other board members: Mark Duncanson, Jim Seamans, Dee Armstrong, Joni Larsen, and Joanna Stark. Both sides demanded a jury trial.
The plaintiff's Motion to Compel (Dkt. 18) was granted by the court on January 31, 2022. Robinson was represented by attorneys Jetta Hatch Mathews and David Paul Gardner.
2021: 132-Signature Vote of No Confidence
In July 2021 — the same year Chad Christensen filed his defamation lawsuit — stakeholders of White Pine Charter Schools launched a formal Vote of No Confidence in Robinson as a school board director. The petition, started by Lisa Bartholomew and signed by 132 parents, teachers, founders, and administrators, stated:
The petition described the atmosphere under Robinson's leadership as having "devolved into one of suspicion, anxiety, and intimidation," with the school having "lost and continue to lose long-standing families, teachers, and administrators" as a result.
Taken together — an election overturned, reported open meeting concerns acknowledged on two occasions within five months, a federal civil rights lawsuit naming her personally, and 132 people formally declaring no confidence — the White Pine record establishes a pattern that precedes and runs parallel to the conduct documented in CV10-21-1197: decisions made in private, processes that lacked transparency, and communities left to discover the truth after the fact.
His Response
Chad Christensen found this site and posted a public Facebook response. He wrote approximately 1,000 words. He did not name a single specific documented fact and call it false.
After the Deposition: What EmmaLee Robinson Did Next
EmmaLee Robinson was not legally liable at the end of litigation in CV10-21-1197. Graf's counterclaims against her were dismissed on procedural grounds. She did not face legal consequence for helping make the recording, forwarding it to Christensen, or sending it directly to Melaleuca. What she did after the litigation ended, and during it, is documented.
After her six-hour deposition, Robinson taunted Graf on Twitter about not being able to remember his face. When asked directly whether she owed Graf an apology, her response: "I'm confused about why I'd apologize."
In January 2022 — while the litigation was active — when Dustin Hurst was publicly calling Graf "Greasy Graf" on Twitter, Robinson backed Hurst's claim that "greasy" meant "slimeball," writing "That's what I thought." When Graf explained that "greasy" was the racial slur applied to his Mexican immigrant mother during her childhood in the United States, Robinson accused Graf of racism: "Then stop the racist HATE Graf!!! This is all on you. I'm shaking because I'm physically ill by you calling Hispanics greasy." She then apologized to Hurst — not to Graf — for having joked about whether Hurst was racist.
On September 17, 2022 — nearly two years after the recording — Robinson used her own variant, "Gross Graf," in a public Twitter reply, adding the parenthetical "since we aren't racist."
As of Idaho's 2026 campaign finance records, Robinson is listed as a $100 donor to Chad Christensen's 2026 legislative campaign.
Frequently Asked Questions: EmmaLee Robinson
Was EmmaLee Robinson subject to a vote of no confidence?
Yes. In July 2021, stakeholders of White Pine Charter Schools (Idaho school district 464) launched a formal Vote of No Confidence against Robinson, who served as a school board director. The petition was signed by 132 parents, teachers, founders, and administrators. It cited "a long and consistent pattern of deceit and deflection," a secret attempt to force through a school merger, and an atmosphere of "suspicion, anxiety, and intimidation." The same year, the CV10-21-1197 defamation litigation was active. The petition is public record on Change.org.
Who is EmmaLee Robinson Idaho?
EmmaLee Robinson is a State Farm insurance agent in Idaho Falls who was Chad Christensen's direct supervisor at State Farm at the time of the events documented on this site. She secretly recorded journalist Gregory Graf in November 2020 with Christensen's assistance, forwarded the recording to Christensen, and separately sent it to counsel at Melaleuca where Graf worked. Her coordination with Greg Pruett and Dustin Hurst is documented in text messages recovered in discovery in Bonneville County Case No. CV10-21-1197.
Did EmmaLee Robinson face legal consequences for recording Gregory Graf?
No. Graf's counterclaims against Robinson were dismissed on procedural grounds. She did not face legal consequence for making the recording, forwarding it to Christensen and Pruett, or sending it directly to Melaleuca. As of 2026 campaign finance records, Robinson donated $100 to Chad Christensen's current legislative campaign.
How was EmmaLee Robinson connected to Chad Christensen before the recording?
EmmaLee Robinson was Chad Christensen's direct supervisor at State Farm Insurance in Idaho Falls. She saw a Facebook comment thread about an East Idaho News article covering Christensen's 2020 legislative race, reached out privately to Graf saying she had "red flags" about Christensen — and then told Christensen about the planned call. Christensen helped her download a recording app on her phone before the call. His voice is audible in the first minute of the recording, coaching her before she went outside to speak with Graf.
Did EmmaLee Robinson authorize publication of the recording?
In her deposition, Robinson claimed she never gave Greg Pruett permission to publish the recording. The court record documents the timeline: she sent a no-permission message only after Graf's attorney issued a cease-and-desist letter. Pruett's November 1 text explicitly references receiving that letter. The articles had already been published by that point.
What was EmmaLee Robinson's role in the pre-publication coordination?
Text messages recovered in discovery document Robinson's coordination with Hurst, Pruett, and other network participants before the Keep Idaho Free articles were published. These messages include the text to Pruett confirming that Bryan Smith had pre-committed to providing free legal defense: "Bryan told me he will defend either of us for free and told me two days ago there isn't a chance Graf will do it." This message was sent before publication and before any lawsuit was filed.
Was EmmaLee Robinson's election to the White Pine Charter School board invalidated?
Yes. Robinson won a May 2019 board election at White Pine Charter School that the board officially overturned on June 28, 2019. The election had severe integrity failures: digital ballots via Google Form had no voter eligibility check and no limit on repeat voting, and paper ballots were destroyed when milk was spilled on them. An attorney's investigation found three witnesses confirmed electioneering in Robinson's favor. The board's own attorney recommended invalidating the election because it could not be validated.
What open meeting law concerns were reported at White Pine Charter School?
White Pine Charter School faced reports of possible open meeting law concerns on two occasions within five months. First, after the board authorized a $10,877 investigation in executive session without a public vote, a complaint was filed with the Bonneville County Sheriff. Board chair Adam Frugoli said he didn't personally believe laws were violated but took corrective action "just in case." Second, Robinson as board chair acknowledged that $85,000 in public school funds had been approved for facilities projects without any open board discussion. Idaho law requires public policy decisions to be made in open meetings.
Was EmmaLee Robinson personally sued in federal court?
Yes. On May 7, 2020, White Pine Charter School's own principal, Jeremy Clarke, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit naming Robinson personally as a defendant under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The case — Clarke v. White Pine Charter School, Inc., et al., No. 4:2020cv00214 — was classified as Civil Rights: Jobs and assigned to U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill. The plaintiff's motion to compel was granted by the court on January 31, 2022. Robinson was represented by attorneys Jetta Hatch Mathews and David Paul Gardner.