WASHINGTON (AP) – On Monday, Facebook canceled a campaign video for U.S. Republican Senator from Missouri Eric Gretens, in which he apparently fired a rifle and said he was chasing RINO, or just Republicans.
In the announcement of Greitens, former Missouri governor who shamefully resigned In 2018, a tactical unit was standing next to him outside his home, on a tree-lined avenue, when he whispered: “RINO is eating corruption and characterized by cowardice ”, using a popular term used by former President Donald Trump and his allies. Moderate or institutional republicans laughed.
An armed tactical group entered the door and threw grenades inside. Greatness smoked in the empty living room and said, “Join the crew of MAGA. Get a RINO hunting permit. “There is no limit on baggage, there is no limit on the delivery of money and it will not expire until we save our country”.
Facebook said the video was removed “for violating a policy prohibiting violence and incitement”. Twitter claims Greitens ’post violated its abusive behavior rules, but said it was leaving because it was“ in the public interest ”to view the tweet. The company’s move prevented further post sharing.
The video comes at a time when political violence is once again being brought to light following deadly shootings and threats from government officials. Two weeks ago, Supreme Court Justice Brett Cavanaugh arrested a man holding a gun, knife and lightning rod after threatening to kill justice. At the same time, a Wisconsin gunman killed a retired state judge before shooting himself to death and He has a list These include the names of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell and the Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers.
On Sunday, Republican lawmaker Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, one of two Republicans serving on a House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol uprising, said he recently received a letter at his home threatening “threatening to kill me as well as me”. And 5. – one month old baby.
Greitens is among the Republican candidates in the highly competitive primary for the Aug. 2 primary to be replaced by Senator Roy Blunt, a Member of Parliament. A provocative new publicity emerged as Gretens tried to improve her position in the polls, speed up fundraising and overcome outright domestic violence allegations filed by her ex -husband in March in a child custody case.
Shina Gretens says Eric Gretens and one of their children physically assaulted her at the time that she displayed “such unstable and compulsive behavior” that steps were taken to restrict access to guns. , court documents say. .
The former governor has certainly denied the allegations, but took it up during the election campaign. He resigned in 2018 amid a criminal investigation and after being accused of having a celibate relationship with a hairdresser and taking a compromise photo so as not to discuss it.
Helen Wade, Shina Gretens’ attorney, told The Kansas City Star that she will “fully” use the new campaign video in the couple’s lawsuit.
“It crosses boundaries,” Wade told the newspaper, adding that he would submit court documents to make the video exhibit the case. Wade did not respond to a request for comment from the Associated Press.
Republican Caleb Rouden, the Missouri Senate Majority Leader, tweeted, “We have already contacted the Missouri Highway Patrol and hope former Governor Greitens finds the help he needs. “Anyone with multiple allegations of violence against women and children should probably avoid this rhetoric.”
The video was also condemned by other candidates running for the Senate.
We are sick and tired of Republicans who just gave up on Joe Biden and the radical left.
Order your RINO hunting permit today! pic.twitter.com/XLMdJnAzSK
-Eric Greitens (@EricGreitens) June 20, 2022
Republican Senator Dave Shats called him “completely irresponsible”.
“So I run. It’s time to restore common sense and reject this nonsense. “Missouri deserves better,” Shatt tweeted.
Democratic Senate candidate Lucas Koons tweeted that “terrorists, pedophiles and criminals” like Greitens “shouldn’t get weapons.”
“Help me defeat this child in November and I will protect our families from such criminals,” Kuns said.
The Missouri police fraternity, which supported Attorney General Eric Schmidt in the Republican Senate, condemned the Greitens video, and said it showed Greitens “didn’t make the right decision” to represent the state and he “learned”. None of the legal problems preceded the governor’s resignation.
The Greatness campaign denied the anger that exploded at the new announcement.
“If someone doesn’t understand the metaphor, they’re lying or stupid,” campaign manager Dylan Johnson said in a statement.
The storm in Brittany follows a well -worn book that has helped other Republican candidates secure their position: make a provocative statement or announcement, wait for a reaction, then point out the backlash when trying to attract money from donors online. In the case of Greatness, the actions taken by the social media giants could prove to be an added bonus. Press pain Towards big tech increasingly turning to the Republican Party.
Once a volatile state, Missouri has become a more credible Republican in recent years. But the Senate race is still getting national attention because some in the GOP establishment fear that if Greitens wins the primary, he will be vulnerable to Democrats in November. When the Senate is evenly divided, the GOP cannot lose what could be a safe haven.
Source: Huffpost
