Virginia GOP Leader Voted Out Over Anti-Semitic Comment

The Republican Party of Virginia has voted out one of its Fairfax County leaders for a comment perceived to be anti-Semitic on Facebook. The State Central Committee voted out Fredy Burgos over the weekend, a party spokesperson told The Washington Post.

Burgos, a Burke resident, faced criticism from members of his party after posting a Facebook comment saying only Christians are fit to run for office. He had been campaigning for Tim Hannigan under a "Make Fairfax Great Again" platform against Jewish candidate Mike Ginsberg for Fairfax County chairman of the party. Hannigan defeated Ginsberg for the post earlier this month.

"I was informed of Mr. Burgos’ offensive and bigoted post the day after it occurred, and I immediately called Mr. Burgos and told him to remove it from Facebook and that he should resign from the State Central Committee without delay,” Virginia GOP Chairman John Whitbeck said after Burgos posted the comment, Inside Nova reported. “If I had the power as chairman to remove him I would have taken such action, and I support any effort taken to remove Mr. Burgos from all official committees. Bigotry like what we saw in Mr. Burgos’ statements have no place in the Republican Party.”

Burgos told Patch his comments were taken out of context. "I never said anyone was not fit for office," Burgos said in a phone interview. He said that the post did not reference the election and added that he admired Ginsberg for talking about his faith during the campaign.

In 2016 he faced backlash from the Virginia GOP for calling Islam a "death cult organized by Satan" and what some perceived to be anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rhetoric. After the state chairman said he disapproved of the comments, Burgos deleted them and apologized. But in the apology, he added, the party needs "my diverse perspective, rough edges and all."

Burgos, son of Chilean immigrants, Burgos grew up in Fairfax County and previously ran for state delegate. An avid Trump supporter, he had frequently posted about illegal immigration during the 2016 presidential election, according to The Post. He's appeared on Latino media to speak in support of Trump, which he plans to continue. And even though he's out at the GOP, Burgos says he'll stay active in Fairfax County politics.

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 06: Fredy Burgos of Virginia wears a hat with the words 'Build The Wall' during an event to celebrate Hispanic Hertitage Month in the East Room at the White House, on October 6, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)