MANASSAS, Virginia – A sheriff’s deputy in Virginia was fired after officials said “disturbing comments” were posted for his report on a conservative social media website.
The Washington Post reports that the Prince William County sheriff’s office announced his resignation on Saturday.
The former deputy said he did not make any comments and that his account was hacked.
Prince William Sheriff Glendell Hill said he immediately started an internal investigation after hearing the comments on Christmas morning.
The comments defended the violence, including against the president of the United States Supreme Court, John Roberts, for allowing the rejection of a case that sought to annul the results of the presidential elections.
“I find them very despicable, which is why I took the steps I took,” Hill told The Washington Post. “I certainly don’t approve of that and, of course, it’s against our policy.”
Congressman Aaron Hoffman told the newspaper he did not post those comments. He said the account he opened on the Parler website was hacked.
“I didn’t make these posts,” said Hoffman. “I’m trying to find out who did it.”
Hoffman was an employee of the county sheriff’s office for 15 years. He said he closed Parler’s account after noticing suspicious activity in his email.
He denied the messages attributed to him and said he plans to consult lawyers about his dismissal.