Josh Shapiro, Doug Mastriano.Photo: Natalie Kolb/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty; Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty
Several Republicans in Pennsylvania are throwing their support behind a Democratic candidate for governor after photos surfaced of far-right GOP nomineeDoug Mastrianowearing a Confederate military uniform.
At least16 Republican leadershave announced their endorsement for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro, days afterReuters reportedthat Mastriano posed for a photo wearing a Confederate uniform in 2014, while he was an instructor at the US Army War College.
According to Reuters, Mastriano posed alongside 20 other faculty members, six of whom were also dressed in historical garb. Reuters added that the Army War College took down the photo when reached for comment, saying it “does not meet AWC values.”
In the wake of the news, many Republican leaders are crossing the political aisle to throw their support behind Shapiro, Mastriano’s rival.
Insider reports that the Shapiro campaignannounced the latest endorsementson Tuesday. The group includes former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, who served under PresidentGeorge W. Bush.
Mastriano — a state senator — is no stranger to controversy, having supported the effort to overturn the 2020 election as well asDonald Trump’s false claims of voter fraud to support it. He was also present forthe events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, though he claims he didn’t enter the building.Trump endorsed himdays before the primary.
The QAnon follower also came under fire forhis association with the hate-filled social media platform Gab, a safe haven for white supremacists, antisemites and other extremists, many of whom have been kicked off mainstream social media sites.
A state campaign filing revealed that Mastriano’s teampaid $5,000 to Gab for “campaign consulting"in April, which Gab founder Andrew Torba now callsan advertising buy.
Shapiro, who is Pennsylvania’s attorney general, told MSNBC of the Mastriano’s affiliation with the site: “This is who Doug Mastriano is. He is so dangerous.”
Shapiro continued: “This Gab site is a haven for white supremacy and yet this is where Doug Mastriano believes he needs to go for support. This is not normal.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer.
Speaking about the controversy on Fox’sOne Nation with Brian Kilmeadein July, Mastriano — who won Pennsylvania’s Republican primary election for governor in May — said: “There’s nothing extreme about me.”
“Imagine this … 30 years in the Army, promoted from 2nd lieutenant to colonel, constantly being vetted,” he continued. “I had a top secret clearance for 30 years, constantly being investigated. If there’s anything extreme about me, obviously our nation would not allow me to have access to some of its most sensitive secrets here.”
Mastriano’s campaign has since deleted his Gab posts.
source: people.com
