The sister-in-law of Eugene Vindman, the Democratic nominee for Virginia’s 7th Congressional district, deleted a series of controversial posts to the social media platform X, all of which referenced the second attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump.
Rachel Vindman on Sunday wrote at least three posts referencing the assassination attempt, which occurred at Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach.
“No ears were harmed. Carry on with your Sunday afternoon,” she wrote in one now-deleted post. “Sorry you’re triggered,” wrote Rachel Vindman in a second, later adding, “I don’t care a little bit.”
In a third post, Rachel Vindman appeared to suggest Trump is to blame for the attempt on his life.
“Trump has been inciting violence against his enemies for years. He douses a situation in gasoline, lights a match, [and] walks away claiming no responsibility,” wrote Rachel Vindman, adding that Trump “wants to claim he’s a victim.”
Rachel Vindman confirmed she deleted an offensive remarks on Monday, calling one post “flippant” in new posts to X.
“With social media it’s easy to say the wrong thing and then walk away, but if words matter for some they should matter for all,” wrote Rachel Vindman. “I don’t always get it right the first time.”
Derrick Anderson, the Republican opposing Eugene Vindman in November, noted the Democrat has not disavowed the now-deleted statements by his sister-in-law, which he “[a] dangerous precedent.”
“While my opponent is failing the leadership and decency test as we speak, I will always stand up to do what is right for #VA07, my home, the place that raised me,” wrote Anderson.
UPDATE:
My opponent, @YVindman, has still not condemned the horrible statements by his family members and political advisors tonight.
In fact, the Vindman family has actually doubled and tripled down on their hateful rhetoric and are now justifying the second failed… pic.twitter.com/45o6cH5NPD
— Derrick Anderson (@DerrickforVA) September 16, 2024
Eugene Vindman played a central role to the Democrats’ first effort to impeach Trump after his twin brother, Alexander Vindman, called him to report a phone call between the former president and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Rachel Vindman is the wife of Alexander Vindman.
Though he has yet to comment on the remarks by Rachel Vindman, the political candidate wrote in a post to X that he was “deeply disturbed by yet another attempt of political violence in our nation.”
Eugene Vindman wrote, “I am grateful that no one is hurt, and thankful for the law enforcement agents who acted bravely and swiftly in the line of duty.”
A recent poll showed Eugene Vindman tied with Anderson as the Democrat faces questions about his military service after he claimed to see combat despite The Daily Mail reporting in 2019 that he had no such experience.
When asked to respond to questions about the Democrat’s military service, the Vindman campaign reportedly enlisted a third-party political organization, prompting a Federal Election Commission (FEC) complaint which accused Eugene Vindman of benefiting from illegal, in-kind campaign contributions.
House Republicans recently announced they would spend $2.3 million to help Anderson defeat Eugene Vindman and recapture the House seat controlled by Democrats since Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) was elected. Spanberger will leave Congress in January to focus on a 2025 gubernatorial campaign.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Rachel Vindman” by Rachel Vindman and “Eugene Vindman” is by Eugene Vindman.
