Top GOP leaders in Virginia shut down a social media post attacking Democratic state House Speaker Don Scott Jr. and his time behind bars on a drug-related offense, issuing apologies and firing the staffer behind it.
On Thursday, the Virginia GOP account on X posted a message ridiculing Scott’s background.
“Is it any surprise that @DonScott757 spent 8 years in federal prison for peddling drugs to college kids, and now he’s obsessed with legislation to cut breaks for drug dealers? Anything for your buddies, right?” the state GOP account read.
Scott was caught off guard but expressed anger when asked by reporters about the post.
He claimed Republicans say one thing in person but then “go behind my back and don’t have the balls to come to my face to say stuff like that.”
“What’s really sad about it is, if I am what they say I am, how the hell do they keep losing to me?” he added.
Scott was convicted of carrying drug-related money across state lines right around the time he finished law school in Louisiana. He had his Virginia voting rights restored by then-Republican Gov. Robert McDonnell, got his law license, was voted into office, and rose through the ranks to become Virginia’s first black House speaker.
Democratic state Sen. Louise Lucas reposted the Virginia GOP screenshot and added, “Everyone knows the state party is always controlled by the governor of their party. We will hold him accountable for every bit of trash like this we read.”
Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) also took to social media, slamming the Republican staffer responsible for the post.
“This comment is unforgivable,” he wrote on X. “Today, I’ve personally expressed to Speaker Scott my deep respect for him and his life journey, this kind of personal attack has no place in Virginia or anywhere.”
The post by the GOP staffer comes at a time when Youngkin is courting Democrats and needs their help to get his ambitious northern Virginia sports arena plan over the finish line.
Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Rich Anderson also noted he did not approve of the social media post and removed the staffer who did.
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“Today, I learned of a very personal attack on @DonScott757 that does not reflect my values or that of our party,” he wrote. “I had neither seen nor approved the tweet — but the buck stops with me. I directed its immediate removal and will be making personnel changes effective today.”
The name of the ousted staffer was not revealed.