Mastriano Still Silent on Close Ties to Dangerous Antisemitism, Despite Calls From Jewish Leaders and Fellow Republicans to Stand Down

Despite public calls from Pennsylvanians and Jewish leaders at a press conference yesterday, Doug Mastriano is staying silent on paying and using antisemitic and white supremacist social media platform Gab, which was described as “key” in the Tree of Life synagogue shooting where 11 Jews were murdered.

Mastriano has also been proudly endorsed by Gab’s CEO Andrew Torba. But even Pennsylvania Republicans are calling on Mastriano to cut ties with Gab.

“Jewish voters expect candidates to condemn antisemitism,” said Matt Brooks, the Republican Jewish Coalition’s executive director. “We strongly urge Doug Mastriano to end his association with Gab, a social network rightly seen by Jewish Americans as a cesspool of bigotry and antisemitism.”

Here’s how Mastriano is ignoring Jewish leaders and refusing to answer for promoting Gab’s extremism and hate:

• The Philadelphia Inquirer, A Jewish Republican group is denouncing Doug Mastriano’s links to an extremist social-media site: “Mastriano’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment Thursday. The campaign does not field questions from most media organizations.”

• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Local lawmakers condemn Doug Mastriano for paying controversial Gab website for advertising campaign: “Mr. Mastriano could not be reached for comment. He has not responded to other media requests on this topic.”

• 90.5 WESA, GOP candidate for Pa. governor Mastriano paid $5,000 to the website used by the Tree of Life shooter: “Mastriano’s campaign didn’t respond to an email requesting comment.”

• Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, Mastriano called out for campaign ties to social media platform critics say is filled with hate speech: “Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 asked for responses on this issue from Mastriano and his campaign, his running mate Carrie Lewis DelRosso, the Pennsylvania Republican Party and its chairman, and the Republican National Committee. None had responded as of when this story was filed.”

• The Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh Jewish, Black leaders call out Doug Mastriano for ties to Gab social platform: “The Mastriano campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.”

“Doug Mastriano is paying thousands of dollars to recruit extremists from an app that was ‘key’ in the murder of eleven Jewish Pennsylvanians — and he can’t even be bothered to answer to Jewish leaders and his fellow Republicans who are deeply concerned about the dangers of this recklessness,” said DGA Deputy Communications Director Sam Newton. “Mastriano should immediately condemn Gab and stop fueling his campaign with extremism.”

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