The National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC) is calling for Trump supporter Jose Feliciano Jr. to resign from Virginia’s redistricting commission. Feliciano is one of Republicans’ four citizen appointees, and is under fire for comments he allegedly made on Twitter.
“Feliciano used his personal Twitter account to claim the 2020 election was rigged, throw misogynistic insults at women, and question America’s involvement in slavery,” the NDRC alleged on Twitter.
Feliciano has since deleted his account, but according to The Virginia Mercury, on January 5, Feliciano responded to a tweet advertising the now-infamous Trump rally scheduled for the next day. He wrote, “GREATEST PRESIDENT IN MODERN DAY HISTORY.”
According to ABC8, in October Feliciano tweeted a picture of a Trump Train and wrote, “Amazing. There is No way Trump can loose. Unless the election is rigged.”
Feliciano is also under fire for misogynistic tweets attacking Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn and actress Jane Fonda.
He told The Virginia Mercury that the language he used was inappropriate, but he said Democrats are targeting him primarily for being pro-Trump. Feliciano said he did not support the violence that occurred at the Capitol on January 6.
“Looks like other posts are singled out because I am pro-Trump, well I am pro-Trump,” he said.
The 16-member bi-partisan redistricting committee is composed of four Republican and four Democratic legislators, as well as eight citizens. Four of the citizens were selected by Democratic leaders, and four were selected by Republican leaders. The citizen nominees were then approved by a non-partisan panel of five judges, according to The Virginia Public Access Project.
According to his application, Fredericksburg resident Feliciano is an agent for the Federal Communications Commission, a 20-year Marine Corps veteran, and a member of the Spotsylvania County Republican Committee.
In his application, Feliciano said he was concerned about past redistricting efforts. He wrote, “I would gladly like to be part of the solution by helping create a fair and bipartisan solution to the redistricting nightmare.”
Delegate Mark Cole (R-Stafford) recommended Feliciano, who was confirmed by House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah.)
In his letter of recommendation, Cole wrote, “I have known Mr. Feliciano for several years and know him to be a hard worker, a person of integrity, and honor. He desires this position to serve the public and the Commonwealth. I am confident he would be impartial do a great job; he would be a definite asset to the commission.”
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Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Daddy’s Home” by James McNellis CC2.0
