Facebook removed a campaign video of Republican candidate for the Missouri Senate, Eric Greitens, showing him showing a shotgun and declaring that he is hunting RINOS (Republicans in name only).
Eric Greitens, former governor of the US state of Missouri, appears flanked by a tactical unit, next to a house, while whispering: “RINO feeds on corruption and is marked by the lists of cowardice”.
The Republican, who resigned as governor in 2018, used in the video a sneer that former President Donald Trump and his allies use to label party members who are moderates.
Afterwards, the armed tactical team bursts through the front door and fires what appears to be smoke grenades, with Greitens entering an empty room amidst the smoke to say, “Join the MAGA team [slogan de Donald Trump, Make America Great Again]. Get a RINO hunting license”.
The social network Facebook said the video was removed for “violation of policies that prohibit violence and incitement to violence”.
Twitter already pointed out that Eric Greitens’ post violated its rules on abusive behavior, but that it kept the video because it was “in the public interest”, although it limited its sharing.
This campaign action by a Republican candidate comes at a time when the debate on gun control in the country is launched, due to the fatal mass shootings and threats to government officials.
Two weeks ago, a man with a gun and knife was arrested near the home of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh after threatening to kill the magistrate, while a gunman killed a retired Wisconsin County judge before committing suicide with a gun. The list included the names of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers.
On Sunday, Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, one of two Republicans on the House of Representatives committee investigating the Jan. death against you and your family.
Greitens is among the Republican candidates for what is expected to be a highly competitive primary on Aug. 2, which will serve to fill the vacancy left open by Republican Senator Roy Blunt.
The campaign has not gone well and has been shaken by allegations of domestic violence by the ex-wife, made in March during a lawsuit over the custody of the children.
The former governor has vehemently denied the allegations, but they are chasing the candidate who resigned in 2018, during a criminal investigation in which he was accused of having an extramarital affair with his hairdresser and having taken a compromising photo of him to prevent this the case becomes public.
The other Republican candidates in that state’s Senate race have already condemned the video.