HARTFORD, Conn — Candidates in Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District race are condemning profane and threatening messages that appeared on screen during a virtual debate.
Democratic U.S. Rep. John Larson, Republican Mary Fay, and Green Party candidate Tom McCormick took part remotely in Monday’s video conference debate.
The messages contained profane, sexual, and anti-LGBTQ language. Larson says the hatred shown in the messages “has no place in Connecticut" and that it's despicable that Fay, who is gay, was attacked along with the moderator.
Fay called the comments hateful, vulgar, and disgusting. McCormick also condemned them but said the incident shouldn’t be given undue attention.
Rep. Larson released a statement Wednesday on the incident:
"Last night during our debate a Zoom bomber joined and harassed the candidates and the League of Women Voters. It is despicable that they attacked Connecticut's first LGBTQ Congressional candidate and the non-partisan moderator. This type of hatred has no place in Connecticut. I stand with my opponents and the League of Women Voters and condemn this attack."
Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) released
“As I said last week, this kind of disgusting personal virtual attack on any person is completely unacceptable,” said Fasano, who previously criticized hateful attacks made against Representatives Rosa DeLauro and Jahana Hayes last week. “We have seen hateful rhetoric ratcheted up over the past few weeks coming from people of all political affiliations. This type of behavior needs to be condemned and it needs to end. I agree with Congressman Larson’s comments that the attack reportedly targeting the moderator and Republican Mary Fay, an LGBTQ congressional candidate, is despicable. Political discourse involves having conversations about many issues including differences of opinion. But disagreements can still be respectful. The hateful, divisive and offensive behavior we have seen in recent weeks has absolutely no place in our state and our nation.”
The League of Women Voters also responded to the incident in a tweet that read:
