Missouri Democratic Rep. Removed from Committees After Controversial Social Media Post
Missouri Democratic Rep. Sarah Unsicker has been removed from her committee assignments after posting a picture on social media with an influencer the Anti-Defamation League calls a Holocaust denier and “alt-right troll.”
Social Media Controversy and Expulsion
Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade announced Unsicker’s removal, citing the promotion of individuals on social media who espouse baseless conspiracies and racist and antisemitic ideologies. The post containing the offending image was no longer visible, but Unsicker identified the man as Charles C. Johnson, characterized by the ADL as a Holocaust denier.
ADL’s Claims Against Charles C. Johnson
The ADL claims Johnson asserted false numbers of Jews killed in the Holocaust during a Reddit session in 2017. Johnson reportedly founded a crowdfunding website that raised over $150,000 in 2017 for the neo-Nazi Andrew Anglin’s legal defense. Johnson had been invited to Capitol Hill in 2017 and 2018 by former Rep. Dana Rohrabacher and Rep. Matt Gaetz, respectively.
Unsicker’s Confusion Over Removal
In a statement, Unsicker expressed confusion about her removal and the unfolding events. House Democrats are evaluating her future in the caucus amid concerns over promoting individuals with controversial ideologies on social media.