The president of Minersville Borough Council is the latest public official caught in a firestorm following a social media post regarding the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump.
Ian Mahal on Tuesday defended his Facebook post and said he will not resign over the comment he made following Saturday’s shooting at Trump’s political rally near Pittsburgh.”The last thing we need is an assassination attempt,” Mahal said in a phone interview Tuesday, “but I unfortunately also let my thoughts about the former president into a statement thanking that he survived.”
Mahal said he won’t resign because he didn’t call for violence, something he said he would never advocate. He said he takes “fully responsibility” for the post he made Sunday on his personal Facebook page.
“I realized it was taken out of context. It was a mistake and it was stupid,” he said.
His since-deleted post showed a photo of the former president and read, in part: “The least deserving person in this country doesn’t need to be a martyr. A Coward and a rapist, and the worst president ever doesn’t deserve celebration.”
Mahal understands people might be upset by his description of Trump, the Republican-nominee in the 2024 election.
Mahal said he has received threats and harassment regarding his wording on the post. He said he doesn’t believe those threats rise to the level of seeking police intervention.
“What happened Saturday is disgusting,” he said of the attack on Trump in Butler.
The suspected gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead. A spectator was also shot and killed and two others were injured.
Mahal has said he’s worked with Republicans and others for the betterment of Schuylkill County.
Michael Combs, former Minersville police chief, said Tuesday he spoke to Mahal about the Facebook post, which he apologized for.
“He’s been a shining example of a council person,” Combs said.
“We have a right to free speech, and we need to respect each others’ rights to express a contrary or opposing opinion.”
Americans pride themselves on freedom of speech, he said.
“Mr. Mahal expressed an opinion. I agree he didn’t call for the assassination,” Combs said, adding people don’t have to agree with Mahal’s comments.
Minersville Police Chief Jeffrey Bowers said via text Tuesday he believes everyone has the right to free speech, but his job is to “effectively run a police department and remain apolitical.”
On Monday, the community relations manager in Lackawanna County was suspended for his controversial post on X, formerly Twitter. Rick Notari of Old Forge remains suspended without pay for his social media commentary that said, “It’s a shame the guy missed.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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