Del. Ian T. Masters, R-Berkeley, located
Several clergymen in Monongalia County call The spokesman for the House, Roger Hanshaw, to carry out a complete examination, as an anti-Semitic comment was made by a personal Instagram account by Del Ian Masters, R-Berkeley.
In addition to the comment that Masters refused, the clergy leaders also ask Hanshaw, R-Clay, to examine Profile picture of the accountThe symbols contained with neo-Nazi and white supremacist beliefs.
“As a clergyman, we condemn anti -Semitism in the best possible terms,” says the letter. “… The Jewish people have been terrible violence and oppression by government actors over the centuries, including in the United States.
The clergymen who sign for the letter include: Rabbi Joseph Hample, Community of Tree of Life; Rev. Jenny Williams, United Methodist; Rev. Zac Morton, first Presbyterian church; Pastor Stephen Prince, United Methodist; Rev. Stephen Lowe, Morgantown Church of the Brethren – Mennonit and Pastor Teresa Prince, United Methodist.
The comment Cover the clergymen On a contribution from April 12th About Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports. Masters denied the comment since West Virginia Watch reported the story for the first time On June 24th. At that time he said that he had no “active Instagram” account and did not recognize any belonging to the handle @noquartermaster.
When the comment was made, the account is The full name of Masters was still used and was previously tagged And presented In Photos of masters Posted by other public Instagram sites.
On June 27thPat McGehan, the majority leader of the house, published a press release in which he received “final evidence”, as Master did not make the comment. He did not leave the evidence released on request.
In her letter to Hanshaw on Tuesday, the Clergymember of Monongalia County announced that the release of McGehan “had caused anti -Semitic tropics” as the majority leader del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha and Del. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia-the only two Jewish members of the state legislature, expressly promised.
After the two asked for a study of the social media of Masters and his resignation when the allegations were true, McGehan said that they were “not in the truth” and made “deceptive accusations” because they wish “power and social status at the expense of others”.
“There is a long and terrible story in which the Jewish people are painted as deceptive, power-hungry sub-humans that use the tricks to drive their agendas ahead,” the clergy wrote. “These stereotypes have been used again and again to justify some of the worst atrocities in human history.”
Last week, McGehan and Masters gave separate interviews on WRNR TV on Tuesday and Wednesday about the comment and the allegations against champions. WRNR is owned by another member of the Republican Republican Caucus, DEL. Mike Hornby, R-Berkeley, according to that Foreign Minister.
McHehn said he examined personally The incident and found the person responsible: a “basically homeless” man with an unnamed illness and a disorder of substance consumption that “would probably die in the near future”.
Master, Said McHehangave the man his elderly inactive iPhone in 2024, but left his social media accounts – including Instagram. The man used Masters’ account, said Mcgehan to leave the comment.
In his interview The next day, Masters repeated McHan’s explanation, albeit in less blatant term. The man, he said, was a friend of his slow brothers and he wanted to lend a hand him while he was fighting. His name was not published.
The profile picture on the side, which shows symbols that were burned in wood supporters, said Masters, was his and a “monument” of his deceased brother who loved the Nordic mythology. The symbols shown included several that were classified by the Anti-defamation League than associated with anti -Semitic beliefs, including the Wolfsangwhich was acquired by Nazi Germany as a division badge for several weapons-SS units and is currently being used in the logo for the Aryan nations in the USA and in Europe.
Outside of McGehan, the Republicans of Republicans did not comment on the allegations against masters in West Virginia. The state democratic party led by Puschkin has applied for a “legitimate” investigation of the matter.
McHehan said last week that the matter was enclosed due to his investigation.
“It is over for me,” said McGenhan. “… there are a lot of things that would go to [an official investigation] And I won’t have any kind of witch hunt. I did Due Diligence. “
In their letter to Hanshaw, the clergymen from Monongalia County said that McGehan had “left the scandal” and that his own investigations were not a reasonable conclusion in view of the allegations.
“McGehan publicly said that he had dealt with the matter and that he will not pursue what he claims: the federal crime of pretending to be legislators. He also explained that he is a long -time friend of delegate champions,” wrote the clergymen. “For these reasons, we believe that he cannot examine the matter impartially and completely. We are demanding [Hanshaw] In order to initiate a complete, impartial examination in order to correct the incidentally incidental injustice, which is maintained by members of the house. “
