VA Gov Forces Out GOP Official Over Racist Tirade

Hampton Roads’ ABC News affiliate reports:

Electoral Board Chair David Dietrich has resigned from his position following racist comments posted on Facebook.

Gov. Youngkin demanded Dietrich’s resignation in a social media post-Saturday afternoon a day after 10 On Your Side reported about the Hampton GOP calling upon the appointing authority for all electoral board members to remove Dietrich.

In his tweet, Youngkin called Dietrich’s “abhorrent” words beyond unacceptable and have no place in Virginia. A spokesperson from the Governor’s office later confirmed that Dietrich has agreed to resign following the demand from Youngkin.

The Daily Beast reports:

Dietrich wrote, “This situation with the United States military is getting more disgusting and dangerous by the day.”

He then singled out Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and retired Gen. Russell Honoré as “so-called ‘leaders,’” describing them as “so vile and racist, there’s no way to describe them other than in terms their own people understand. They are nothing more than dirty, stinking [N-words].”

Dietrich then called both men “enemies of the People,” and threatened a civil war before concluding, “Perhaps the best way to pull us back from the brink is a good public lynching.”

As governor, I serve all Virginians. I won’t accept racism in our Commonwealth or our party. The abhorrent words of a Hampton Roads official are beyond unacceptable and have no place in Virginia. It’s time to resign. https://t.co/w2pnl95jrl

— Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA) April 9, 2022