An online post by a League of Women Voters official from Atlantic County suggesting that she wished Trump had been killed during last night’s assassination attempt has now led to resignation after facing condemnation from both parties.
Victoria Druding, 77, told the New Jersey Globe that she took down the Facebook post she wrote saying: “Trump was shot!!! Unfortunately, he was only grazed.”
“It was some dark humor,” Druding told the New Jersey Globe. “I had company, and all of us got caught up in the moment.”
She said she woke up this morning and deleted the post, calling her post a “stupid error in judgment.”
While Druding initially said she had no plans to step down from the group, she quickly changed her mind.
“My comment did not represent the League’s nonpartisan position,” she said in a resignation letter this morning. “I will continue to promote the League’s good work but feel this is the right thing to do under the circumstances and that the League should not be put in a position to have to ask me.”
Druding said she is working hard to build membership and has been approached to moderate debates in the fall elections.
Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman called Druding’s post “reprehensible.”
“This is not helpful. Her comments are indefensible,” Suleiman said. “Everybody’s got to lower their temperature right now.”
Republican State Sen. Vincent Polistina (R-Egg Harbor Township) said that “anything less than prayers at this point is incredibly uncalled for.”
“Everyone must condemn the horrific events no matter what side of the political spectrum you are on,” said Polistina.
Druding said she is working on getting the Atlantic County League of Women Voters recertified as a county chapter after membership fell below minimum levels.
“It took a beating from (Rep. Jeff) Van Drew, she said.
She defended her ability to continue to lead the group and build its membership.
“My son is a Republican. My daughter is a Republican. Hell, some of my best friends are Republicans,” Druding said.
In a statement, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey condemned the assassination attempt on Trump.
“Our thoughts are with the former President, his family, and the other victims of this horrific violence. There is no place for violence in American politics,” the organization said. “The League of Women Voters of New Jersey finds Victoria Druding’s social media post inexcusable, it does not represent the values of our organization, and she has resigned from her position.”
This story was updated at 12:12 PM with an additional statement from Druding and at 1:08 with a comment from the LWV.