Jewish advocacy groups are condemning the vice chair of the Maricopa County Republican Party for saying she would lynch Republican Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer.
Richer shared a video online that shows Shelby Busch making the comments at an event in March in support of Republican Congressional candidate Jerone Davison.
In the video, Busch says she supports candidates who will run Christian campaigns. She then says she would lynch Richer, who is Jewish, if he walked into the room.
The Anti-Defamation League and Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix issued a joint statement condemning the statements.
“ADL Desert and Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix are appalled at these vile remarks,” according to the statement. “We urge Ms. Bush to retract and apologize, and the Maricopa County Republican Party to stand against such rhetoric.”
Richer also criticized Busch, saying, “that shouldn’t be in your vocabulary, given the history of that term.”
“That’s not appropriate, because we know some people have taken action,” Richer said. “We know that some people have made voice calls. And so that’s really disappointing. She knows better. I’m sorry she did it.”
Busch, Maricopa County Republican Party Chairman Craig Berland and the Arizona Republican Party did not respond to a request for comment.
