A pro-Trump group in Toledo, Ohio has accused Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken of cursing out Trump supporters before an appearance in the area by presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
The group, Toledoans for Trump, initially made the accusation on Facebook after hosting a “Trump Sign Wave” outside of the Warren event.
“Some are sicker than others, motherf—,” Gerken allegedly yelled at the group.
“This is a vulgar quote we got yelled at us by an elected official at the Trump Sign Wave,” Toledoans for Trump wrote in a July 29 Facebook post. “A very rude way to ask for a vote from his constituents.”
Ron Johns, coordinator of the group, told The Toledo Blade in an interview that he’s “never met this guy” and said Gerken was “just yelling at us.”
While Gerken admitted that he said “some are sicker than others,” he told The Blade that he doesn’t remember “saying the m-word.”
“It was in the middle of a raging storm. I don’t remember saying the m-word. I don’t remember what they said in response, though there were angry words said to me. But I just kept moving,” Gerken said.
He went on to reveal his hatred for the president, saying “any comments were directed at Trump and not at the individuals at the rally.”
“Regardless of the words that were exchanged, I do think that President Trump is a sick leader who is sickening our nation,” Gerken continued. “I respect their right to free speech, and I hope they respect mine.”
Two other members of Toledoans for Trump confirmed with The Blade that they witnessed the exchange with Gerken.
“We were just surprised that a county commissioner would say this to us just because he disagrees with us,” Johns said. “It was an extreme case of Trump Derangement Syndrome. We were just sitting there, holding American flags and Trump flags, supporting our president, who was duly elected.”
Gerken recently boasted on Facebook about a resolution passed by the Lucas County commissioners that denounces “the national discourse and verbal attacks on immigrants and people of color.” The resolution was drafted in response to President Trump’s feud with Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) and the “squad.”
“These women, known as the squad, who seem to be the forefront of these attacks, are only part of the issue,” Gerken said. “This is [the] unveiling of a racist and xenophobic rise in America where elected leaders have become the focal point.”
Toledoans for Trump have now dubbed Gerken “potty-mouth Pete” and are encouraging their followers to vote him out of office.
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of Battleground State News, The Ohio Star, and The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Hey Pete, wheres your bat?